At long, long last! Die Roten Bullen overcame Bayern Munich for the first time at the fifth attempt on Sunday night (and with it claimed their 100th home league win in German football to maintain the gap to those in the top four Champions League places.
The Red Bull Arena was sold out for the final clash of matchday 27 and saw a game of the highest quality from the outset. Marcel Sabitzer was forced off after 10 minutes and it got worse for RBL moments later when Sandro Wagner headed Bayern into the lead.
But Ralph Hasenhüttl’s team fought back and had chances to equalize through Bruma, Timo Werner and Yussuf Poulsen, who wasted two further opportunities to restore parity. The leveler came through Naby Keita, who powered home from close range after Werner’s effort has been saved by Sven Ulreich to send the sides in at 1-1 at the break.
Hasenhüttl’s side came out even more fired up after the break and following a perfect through ball from Naby Keita, Werner made it 2-1 before the hour. Bayern pressed in the final stages to try and save a point, but the home side was able to hold on through sheer grit and determination to hold off the record title holders and champions-elect.
SQUAD:
- There were six changes from the side which progressed in the Europa League on Thursday, as Ibrahima Konaté, Marcel Sabitzer, Yussuf Poulsen, Stefan Ilsanker, Konrad Laimer and Kevin Kampl all came back into the 11.
- Marcel Sabitzer returned after a recent back problem, but was sadly forced off with a right ankle knock after just 10 minutes.
- Naby Keita’s goal was his fifth of the season, Timo Werner’s his 11th.
- Lukas Klostermann was rested following the team’s hectic fixture schedule in recent weeks.
Bundesliga MD27
2:1
Sat, 18th Mar
Red Bull Arena