The defending champions had some hard times against minnows Borussia M’gladbach on Saturday at Allianz Arena. Bayern Munich edged the foot of the table thanks to Robben’s precious goal, which allowed the Bavarians stay in touch for a place into the next year’s Champions League season. The win over Borussia is Bayern’s third in a row after they also defeated SC Freiburg 2-1 last week and Hamburger SV 6-0 on March 12.
Foto Source: thesoccerroom.com
Louis Van Gaal, who will leave the Bavarians this summer, managed to put Munich back on top in the Bundesliga table after a long period of struggling below the podium. Even so, they are just one point above fourth Hannover 96 who lost 1-4 to leaders Borussia Dortmund last weekend. Robben scored the only goal of the game on Saturday in the 78th minute following a lovely action which found the Dutch beating keeper Bailly following a superb trade marked shot.
The game came just six minutes after Van Gaal replaced Thomas Muller and Kroos with Miroslav Klose and Ottle respectively. Bayern concede at the same time two yellow cards through Robben and right defender Lahm, while Reus was also cautioned for the visitors. Lucien Favre made three changes, introducing Matmour, Brouwers and Idrissou for Hanke, Neustadter and Herrmann, but things wouldn’t change too much for Borussia who could barely reach Kraft’s box.
Munich won their 15th game of the season, having earned 51 points in 28 games. On contrast, M’gladbach are struggling down the table, the loss to Bayern being their 17th of the season as Lucien Favre’s side seem to be condemned to relegation, realizing they have won just 23 points in 28 games. FC St. pauli are five points above them but with one game in hand. Former champions and Felix Magath’s new side VfL Wolfsburg also have 28 points, while VfB Stutgart lie 15th with 30 points.
Bayern will next meet FC Nurnberg who lost 0-1 to FC Koln on Sunday and who are sixth with 42 points, while Borussia M’gladbach play the same FC Koln, who sit tenth with 35 points, next Sunday. Bayer Leverkusen cemented their second spot in the German league thanks to a 1-0 victory over FC Kaiserslautern whom they defeated on Saturday on Fritz-Walter stadium, thanks to Sam’s 74th minute goal that propelled Jupp Heynckes’s seven points clear of Bayern.
Sam scored his seventh goal of the season to tie team-mate Renato Augusto for the same number of goals. But Bayer’s top scorer remains Arturo Vidal, who has scored nine times so far this season and who was among the first XI on Saturday. Michael Ballack and Schwaab left with a yellow card, each for Leverkusen who will have to look for another coach this summer.
Bayer won their 17th game of the season, sitting behind Borussia Dortmund with 58 points in 28 games. Finally, Kaiserslautern lie 14th with 31 points in 28 games, just two behind 11th Schalke 04. Marco Kurz side will next face VfB Suttgart who held Werder Bremen in a 1-1 draw on Saturday. As for Leverkusen, they meet FC St. Pauli next Sunday.
