Resolute Reds overcome stubborn Augsburg

FC Bayern beat FC Augsburg 2-0 on Sunday afternoon. The German record champions enjoyed much more of the ball but failed to create any openings worthy of the name in the first half, but they upped the pressure after the restart, Thomas Müller opening the scoring before the hour mark and sub Leon Goretzka settling the matter in the closing stages. The result sees Bayern extend their lead in the Bundesliga table.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Benjamin Pavard, Jérôme Boateng, David Alaba and Alphonso Davies in a back four. Joshua Kimmich, Thomas Müller and Thiago took up station in midfield, with Serge Gnabry and Philippe Coutinho out wide and youngster Joshua Zirkzee up front. Goretzka, Javi Martínez and Lucas Hernández took over from Zirkzee, Thiago and Coutinho in the second half.

Scrappy opening

The 75,000 capacity crowd at the Allianz Arena saw Bayern dominate possession but struggle against the hardworking and well-organised visitors in a first half that was all but devoid of clear-cut chances. Florian Niederlechner drew a comfortable save from Neuer before an Alaba throughball evaded the charging Gnabry, a mishit Davies cross sailing over the bar.

Bayern upped the pressure in search of an opener towards the end of the first half, Alaba seeing a shot deflected wide. Müller connected to a Pavard cross but saw his effort bounce over the bar, and the contest was goalless at half-time.

Thomas breaks the deadlock

Philipp Max miscued from 20 yards, Gnabry heading over the bar at the other end. It took individual quality to break the deadlock, Boateng shining with a pinpoint throughball to Müller, who coolly slotted home with his first touch. Bayern tried to put the game to bed now, Coutinho seeing a shot blocked before netminder Andreas Luthe denied Zirkzee.

Gnabry was out of luck when he fired wide, drew a save from Luthe and had another shot deflected in quick succession. Neuer made a crucial save against Niederlechner, Gnabry again rifling wide at the other end. Augsburg soon had the ball in the back of the net, but Niederlechner's goal was ruled out for offside. Bayern closed it out when Gnabry invited Goretzka to slot past Luthe, and match official Bibiana Steinhaus blew for full-time.

The result means Bayern have 55 points from 25 matches, four clear of Dortmund. The Bavarians will be back in action next Saturday, when they travel to face Union Berlin in the Bundesliga.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen