bundesliga

Robert Lewandowski and Leon Goretzka help Bayern Munich end Freiburg's unbeaten run

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Bayern Munich ended Freiburg's unbeaten start to the season, with Leon Goretzka and Robert Lewandowski on target for the Bundesliga leaders at the Allianz Arena.

Bayern Munich 2-1 Freiburg
Goals: 1-0 Goretzka 30' (assist: Müller), 2-0 Lewandowski 75' (assist: Sane), 2-1 Haberer 90'+3 (assist: Grifo)

Bayern began the day three points better off than Freiburg, and there was very little between the sides in the early exchanges. Alphonso Davies tested Mark Flekken, before Lucas Höler flashed an effort wide following a misplaced header by Joshua Kimmich. Leroy Sane was next to try his luck for the record champions, but could only place his right-footed attempt straight at the goalkeeper. Freiburg responded in kind, with Maximillian Eggestein shooting wide from 18 yards. The visitors had succeeeded in fighting fire with fire up until the half-hour mark when Goretzka collected a pass into the box from Thomas Müller and fired past Flekken for 1-0. Lewandowski threatened soon after and Kingsley Coman headed at Flekken as Bayern went in at the break pedal to the metal.

There was little respite for Freiburg in the second half. Müller was denied at close quarters by Nicolas Höfler, before Goretzka pinged a warning shot over from range. Bayern kept their foot down as Flekken fended clear a stinging 18-yard drive from Sane, with Goretzka side-footing a low cross from Müller against the left-hand post soon after. Lewandowski sent a flicked header onto the roof of the net and Goretzka grazed the crossbar on the volley, before substitute Serge Gnabry forced a diving save out of Flekken with a shot from inside the area. The relentless pressure told with 15 minutes remaining when Davies teed up Sane for an 18-yard strike steered in from close range by Lewandowski. Janik Haberer reduced the deficit in an action-packed finale comprising a trio of Manuel Neuer saves and a disallowed Corentin Tolisso goal, but Bayern held on to consolidate their lead at the head of the table.

Match stats

  • Bayern’s total of 40 goals is the most a team has ever scored after 11 games of a Bundesliga season. It’s also 58 matches going back to February 2020 since they drew a blank in the league.
  • The record champions have scored 100 Bundesliga goals in a calendar year for the second time. Cologne hold the outright league record (101).
  • Lewandowski has scored 20 times in 19 games against Freiburg, including in each of the last six.
  • Goretzka scored his second Bundesliga goal of the season.
  • Müller once again leads the league's assist chart, with eight.
  • Christian Streich took charge of his 300th Bundesliga game (all with Freiburg). In the hotseat for 3,600 days, he’s the longest-serving, as well as the oldest coach currently in the league at 56. Julian Nagelsmann is the youngest (34).

Watch: Müller: "We have a very attacking philosophy"

Line-ups

Bayern: Neuer (c) - Süle, Upamecano, Hernandez (Nianzou 84'), Davies - Kimmich, Goretzka (Tolisso 71') - Coman (Gnabry 66'), Müller (Musiala 71'), Sane (Choupo-Moting 84') – Lewandowski
Unused subs: Früchtl, Richards, Pavard, Stanisic
Out: Sabitzer (ill), Ulreich (knee)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann

Freiburg: Flekken - Gulde (Demirovic 80'), Lienhart, N. Schlotterbeck - Kübler (Sildillia 80'), Eggestein (Haberer 73'), Höfler, Günter (c) - Jeong (Schade 59'), Höler, Grifo
Unused subs: Uphoff, Keitel, Heintz, K. Schlotterbeck, Burkart
Out: Petersen (knee), Sallai (knee), Schmid (match fitness)
Coach: Christian Streich

Watch: Nagelsmann: "We're where we want to be"