Saturday, November 5, 2022 at 5:33 PM• Mart van Mourik • Last update: 17:40

Bayern Munich scored a narrow victory in the Bundesliga on Saturday afternoon. On a visit to Hertha BSC, the scoreboard showed a 2-3 final score after ninety minutes of football. The Bavarian goal production was provided by Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (two goals) and Jamal Musiala. Alphonso Davies went to the side injured after more than an hour of play and may have to fear missing out on the World Cup. Thanks to the three-pointer, of the Rekordmeister for the time being the lead from 1. FC Union Berlin, which will only be in action on Sunday.

Nagelsmann decided to point out his team in several places compared to the won Champions League match with Internazionale (2-0). Where Noussair Mazraoui retained his starting spot, Ryan Gravenberch had to settle for a reserve role this time. Also important was the return of Manuel Neuer under the bar. The closing post has been out of action since October 8 due to a shoulder injury. Matthijs de Ligt is still struggling with a hamstring injury and was not part of the match selection. Jean-Paul Boëtius was given a place in the starting eleven from trainer Sandro Schwarz.

Bayern started the match well and opened the score in the fifth minute of play. Sadio Mane took advantage of an inattention in Hertha’s defense and gave a wide pass to Musiala, who passed goalkeeper Oliver Christensen with a diagonal shot: 0-1. After 38 minutes, the scoreboard indicated a 0-3 score thanks to two hits within a minute of Choupo-Moting. The striker made the 0-2 from the rebound, after a shot by Leon Goretzka was blocked. Bayern’s third goal was similarly made by Choupo-Moting: this time he was able to slide in from close range after a bounced cross from Serge Gnabry.

The visitors seemed to have the spoils before halftime, but nothing turned out to be less true. Almost immediately after the Bavarian goal, Dodi Lukebakio took care of the 1-3 on the advice of Marco Richter. Hertha also found a connecting goal before halftime. Benjamin Pavard stepped on Davie Selke’s foot within sixteen, after which Bastian Dankert – on the advice of the video referee – awarded a penalty. Selke himself went behind the ball and signed the 2-3 in a cold-blooded way.

The entertainment value was significantly more limited in the second half. Bayern thought after an hour of play to increase the advantage when Agustín Rogel worked in his own goal, but the video images showed that Davies was offside in the build-up of the attack: goal disallowed. A few minutes later, Davies had to leave the field with a hamstring injury and he may have to fear missing out on the World Cup. In the remainder of the game Bayern remained dominant and Hertha failed to produce a single shot on target. Despite the high pressure on the enemy goal, Nagelsmann’s team was unable to score.

No. Team m W G V +/- Pnt
1 Bayern Munich 13 8 4 1 29 28
2 1. FC Union Berlin 12 8 2 2 12 26
3 Borussia Dortmund 13 8 1 4 8 25
4 SC Freiburg 12 7 3 2 5 24
5 Eintracht Frankfurt 13 7 2 4 6 23
6 RB Leipzig 13 6 4 3 6 22
7 Borussia Monchengladbach 13 5 4 4 3 19
8 Werder Bremen 12 5 3 4 3 18
9 TSG Hoffenheim 13 5 3 5 3 18
10 FSV Mainz 05 13 5 3 5 -4 18
11 VfL Wolfsburg 13 4 5 4 1 17
12 1. FC Cologne 12 4 5 3 -3 17
13 FC Augsburg 13 4 2 7 -7 14
14 Hertha BSC 13 2 5 6 -4 11
15 VfB Stuttgart 13 2 5 6 -8 11
16 Bayer Leverkusen 12 2 3 7 -9 9
17 VfL Bochum 13 2 1 10 -24 7
18 Schalke 04 12 1 3 8 -17 6