Sadio Mane on target as Bayern Munich climb to second at the expense of Freiburg
Bayern Munich unseated second-placed Freiburg, with Sadio Mane one of five different goalscorers in a 5-0 win at the Allianz Arena.
Bayern Munich 5-0 Freiburg
Goals: 1-0 Gnabry 13', 2-0 Choupo-Moting 33' (assist: Sane), 3-0 Sane 52', 4-0 Mane 55' (assist: Gnabry), 5-0 Sabitzer (81')
Bayern's season has been uncharacteristically hot and cold, but the defending champions showed Freiburg no mercy in a one-sided encounter. After Alphonso Davies smashed narrowly over, the men in red forged ahead. Davies was involved again, teeing up a Sane strike saved at point-blank range by Mark Flekken. Serge Gnabry was first to the loose ball, looping a header beyond the reach of the goalkeeper. Flekken saved from Gnabry and Mane miscued, before Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting - deployed in the lone striker's role - collected Sane's outside-of-the-boot pass and fired into the far corner from a tight angle inside the box. Flekken kept Gnabry out once more as Bayern took a commanding lead into the break.
There was no let-up for Freiburg after the restart as Gnabry sent a shot against the upright. The Germany striker then combined with Choupo-Moting to set up Sane for a thunderous 18-yard finish. Mane got in on the act three minutes later, the Senegal star controlling Gnabry's lofted pass into the area and lifting a cool finish over the advancing Flekken. Sane passed up the chance to double his tally, attempting to square a pass that was ultimately cut out, rather than shoot. Matthias Ginter prevented Mane from working his magic in the box with 11 minutes remaining, but his block only found substitute Marcel Sabitzer, who swept home with unerring accuracy from 18 yards. A rampant Bayern climb to second, four points behind leaders Union Berlin.
Match stats
- Bayern have 29 Bundesliga goals so far this season, at a clip of almost three per game.
- Mane has scored five Bundesliga goals from 16 shots on target. He's also had six ruled out.
- Choupo-Moting scored in the Bundesliga for the first time as a starter since 20 April 20 2021 (a 2-0 home win against Bayer Leverkusen).
- Gnabry registered his third Bundesliga goal of the season, but first header since 22 May 2021.
- Sane has five goals and two assists to show after 10 rounds of Bundesliga fixtures.
- Freiburg have never won away to Bayern in the Bundesliga (D3, L20).
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Teams
Bayern: Ulreich - Mazraoui (Stanisic 79'), Upamecano, de Ligt (Pavard 76'), Davies - Kimmich (c), Goretzka (Sabitzer 76') - Sane (Tel 76'), Gnabry, Mane - Choupo-Moting (Musiala 65')
Unused subs: Schenk, Wanner, Gravenberch
Out: Coman (suspended), Hernandez (groin), Müller (muscular) Neuer (shoulder), Sarr (patella tendon)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
Freiburg: Flekken - Sildillia, Ginter, Lienhart, Günter (c) - Eggestein, Höfler (Keitel 64') - Doan (Höler 76'), Schade (Jeong 56'), Grifo (Weißhaupt 56') - Gregoritsch (Petersen 57')
Unused subs: Atubolu, Kübler, Wagner, Schlotterbeck
Out: Ezekwem (muscular), Gulde (knock), Kyereh (muscular), Sallai (eye socket)
Coach: Christian Streich
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