Bayern Munich ended their woeful streak of three consecutive defeats in all competitions by beating RB Leipzig on the Allianz Area on Saturday night. Harry Kane broke the impasse with a superb end within the 56th minute, and the guests cancelled it out via a deflected shot by Benjamin Sesko 14 minutes later. Nonetheless, Kane struck once more simply because the 90 minutes expired, setting the ultimate rating at 2-1.
The primary half
The 2 halves of this recreation appeared like two totally different video games. Within the first, Bayern simply stored the ball in Leipzig’s half via decided excessive urgent and good group in the midst of the park.
Nonetheless, as soon as within the closing third, they struggled to interrupt via the double line of 4 that barred the best way in direction of Janis Blaswich’s aim. For a very long time, the one technique to get the ball into the field was to go broad and whip it in from there, however each time they did that, the Leipzig defence reacted immaculately.
The draw back to such an strategy from Leipzig, conserving their midfield line near the defence, was quite apparent. Upfront, forwards Lois Openda and Sesko have been fully lower off from the remainder of the workforce for very giant spells, unable to get on the tip of most lengthy balls aimed their method from the again. Solely often would Xavi Simons or Dani Olmo attempt to carry the ball ahead, however they not often acquired far sufficient to create something to hassle Manuel Neuer.
The second half
Within the second half, nonetheless, the guests step by step opened up and the competition turned way more attention-grabbing. Whereas Bayern nonetheless dominated the ball, each groups have been getting nearer to the opposition aim. Leipzig got here very near taking the lead via Mohamed Simakan, who acquired on the tip of a well-taken nook to hit goalwards from some 15 yards, lacking the goal by a foot or two.
However Leipzig’s extra open strategy expectedly left a bit of more room for Bayern to use on the different finish, and that’s precisely what occurred within the 56th minute. Jamal Musiala carried the ball near the field and handed it via a thinned again line to search out Kane. As soon as contained in the field, turned in direction of aim with the ball at his ft, the England captain did what he does finest, firing previous Blaswich. However pleasure shortly turned to disbelief within the stands of the Allianz Area as Leipzig struck again.
For all his reported want to play extra, Matthijs de Ligt will wish to query his personal dedication within the scenario when Sesko equalized. The Slovenian striker was on the sting of the field with the ball at his ft, and whereas the remainder of the Bayern defence, together with midfielder Leon Goretzka, dove in to try to block the shot, the Netherlands worldwide stool as if turned to stone, watching every part unfold with out displaying any intention of intervening. He would possibly as effectively have put his fingers in his pockets and whistled.
Having beforehand come on to interchange Musiala, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting pulled the ball from the left-wing place into the center of the field, and that’s the place Kane often lurks able to pounce. The Leipzig defence appeared drained by that point and the previous Spurs man was virtually unmarked as he blasted previous Blaswich for the second time.
The aftermath
The strain has considerably lifted from the shoulders of Bayern head coach Thomas Tuchel following the membership’s announcement that they’d be parting methods on the finish of the season. Too late although it’s for him to battle for his job, his capability to encourage his workforce to rise above the stupor of latest failures and at last win a recreation, in opposition to worthy opposition as effectively, will certainly turn out to be useful when different potential employers contemplate his qualities in the summertime.
It has been stated that Tuchel can be open to working at Manchester United, feeling he nonetheless has unfinished enterprise within the Premier League. Barcelona are believed to be contemplating him as a alternative for the departing Xavi Hernandez as effectively.
In the meantime, all this victory has accomplished for Bayern was to maintain their slim hopes of retaining the Bundesliga title alive, lowering the 11-point deficit following Bayer Leverkusen’s overcome Mainz 05 on Friday, again to eight. However even probably the most optimistic among the many Bayern trustworthy will probably be pondering it was sensible to anticipate Xabi Alonso’s facet to falter so closely earlier than the tip of the season.
The “Kane curse”
Harry Kane is undoubtedly a legend of Tottenham Hotspur, however for all his heroics in North London, he’s nonetheless to win a serious trophy in an in any other case illustrious profession. With that in thoughts, his want to depart Spurs for Bayern final summer season is straightforward to know, but it surely appears becoming a member of a membership that wins trophies on a regular basis hasn’t labored very effectively for the 30-year-old hitman.
Having received the league title in Germany for 11 consecutive seasons, Bayern are irresistibly sliding in direction of shedding it to Leverkusen. They have been knocked out of the DFB-Pokal by third-tier facet Saarbrucken, they usually’re all the way down to Lazio after the primary leg of their conflict within the Champions League spherical of 16. They may, after all, overturn that deficit on the Allianz Area, however given the issues they’ve been dealing with, anticipating them to go on to win the Champions League doesn’t actually appear sensible. And but, it’s the most effective probability they’ve acquired.
The truth that Kane’s await a trophy seems prone to proceed regardless of enjoying for a membership like Bayern has sparked loads of banter at his expense, with many jokingly referring to Bayern’s ongoing woes as “the Kane curse”. And but, it will probably hardly be the fault of the participant who scored 31 objectives in as many appearances for the membership, together with eight assists.
