On-song Reds ease past Freiburg

FC Bayern beat SC Freiburg 3-1 on Saturday afternoon, winning their 15th competitive match on the bounce, a new record in Germany. Munich refused to ease off after sealing their eighth straight Bundesliga title on Tuesday, Joshua Kimmich and Robert Lewandowski handing them an early two-goal lead. Freiburg's Lucas Höler soon pulled one back, but Lewandowski restored the two-goal advantage before half-time.

The Bavarians started with Sven Ulreich in goal and Benjamin Pavard, Javi Martínez, Jérôme Boateng and Lucas Hernández in a back four. Kimmich and Leon Goretzka anchored a midfield featuring Michaël Cuisance, Thomas Müller and Sarpreet Singh, with Lewandowski up front. Coach Hansi Flick shuffled his deck, making five changes to the XI that saw off Bremen on Tuesday. Ulreich took over from Manuel Neuer between the sticks, Martínez, Hernández, Cuisance and Singh coming on for Alphonso Davies, David Alaba, Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman.

First-half dominance

Bayern roared off the blocks, laying siege to the visitors' goal. Müller fired wide and Boateng warmed the gloves of keeper Alexander Schwolow before Singh saw an effort blocked. Kimmich saw an effort saved but soon put Bayern ahead, Lewandowski controlling a Müller cross and laying it back for Kimmich to fire home from the edge of the box.

Müller saw his shot saved, but Schwolow only parried a Goretzka effort, with Lewandowski on hand to mop up and double the lead. Freiburg pulled one back when Jonathan Schmid charged down the right and invited Höler to tap home. Bayern responded almost immediately, Lewandowski poking home an Hernández centre. Müller drew a strong save from Schwolow, and match official Sören Storks blew for half-time.

No goals after half-time

The pace dropped after the restart, with Freiburg putting up a fight. Höler and Lewandowski miscued their headers, Cuisance and Pavard firing wide. Joshua Zirkzee and Kingsley Coman took over from Cuisance and Singh now. Ulreich beat Luca Waldchmidt to a dangerous pass.

Waldschmidt saw an effort deflected wide before Chris Richards and Jamal Musiala made their senior debuts, coming on for Martínez and Müller in the closing stages. Coman hit the crossbar before Ulreich made a strong save to deny Chang-Hoon Kwon, and Storks blew for full-time.

The result means Bayern have 79 points from 33 matches, ten clear of Dortmund. The Bavarians will be back in action next Saturday, when they travel to face VfL Wolfsburg, a match destined to serve as an appetizer for the DFB Cup final against Bayer Leverkusen on 4 July.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen