Two goals from Leon Goretzka helped Bayern Munich to a narrow 3-2 win over Wolfsburg, putting the Bavarian giants seven points clear at the top of the table Bundesliga Table.
The hosts have seen champions Bayer Leverkusen raise their game in recent weeks and appear determined to retain the title they won last season without defeat.
Bayern started the game with a lead and were rewarded for their efforts after 20 minutes when Goretzka, back in the lead after a break, advanced unhindered towards Wolfsburg’s penalty area before firing a low shot beyond Kamil Grabara’s reach.
But this joy was short-lived as a dozing Michael Olise allowed Mohamed Amoura to get past Manuel Neuer four minutes later.
The former Crystal Palace playmaker more than made up for his lack of concentration five minutes before half-time, restoring Bayern’s lead with more than a helping hand from Grabara. Olise skipped a few challenges outside the Wolfsburg penalty area and his shot could have easily been saved by the Polish goalkeeper. But somehow he managed to escape the strain of gliding and rolled tamely across the finish line.
A third goal from Joshua Kimmich was blocked by VAR before half-time, but that didn’t matter as Bayern extended their lead after just an hour. Olise fired a delicious free kick into the Wolfsburg penalty area, where an onrushing and free goalkeeper Goretzka directed a header past Grabara’s inside post and into the goal.
Bayern had 25 shots in total, 10 of which were on target, but they threatened to undermine their supremacy by allowing Wolfsburg back into the game in the dying embers.
Tiago Tomas’s wonderful throw home, which should have been stopped by a tactical Bayern foul, allowed Amouri to break away from Dayot Upamecano and he fired another deft finish past Neuer to set up a finale in the stands.
However, Bayern held on and celebrated their 14th win of the season.
Position/player | Evaluation |
|---|---|
GK: Manuel Neuer | 6.8/10 |
RB: Konrad Laimer | 6.5/10 |
CB: Dayot Upamecano | 7.3/10 |
CB: Kim Min-jae | 6.8/10 |
LB: Alphonso Davies | 6.9/10 |
CM: Joshua Kimmich | 8.3/10 |
CM: Leon Goretzka | 9.0/10 |
RM: Leroy Sane | 8.2/10 |
AM: Michael Olise | 9.0/10 |
LM: Kingsley Coman | 7.8/10 |
CF: Harry Kane | 7.5/10 |
SUB: Serge Gnabry (67th for Sane) | 6.5/10 |
SUB: Jamal Musiala (75th for Coman) | 5.9/10 |
Substitutes not used: Sven Ulreich (TW), Eric Dier, Josip Stanisic, Raphael Guerreiro, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Thomas Müller, Mathys Tel