Resilient Bayern triumph at the death

FC Bayern beat SC Freiburg 3-1 on Wednesday night. Robert Lewandowski handed Bayern the lead early in the first half, Vincenzo Grifo levelling the scores before the hour. Bayern pressed for a winner in the closing stages, and sub Joshua Zirkzee crowned his Bundesliga debut with a goal before Serge Gnabry closed out the meeting.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Joshua Kimmich, Benjamin Pavard, David Alaba and Alphonso Davies in a back four. Thomas Müller, Thiago and Philippe Coutinho featured in midfield, with Gnabry and Ivan Perišić out wide and Lewandowski as sole striker. Javi Martínez came on for Müller midway through the second half, Zirkzee taking over from Coutinho in the closing stages.

Lewy opens

The 24,000 full house in Freiburg saw Bayern in the driving seat at first. Coutinho almost put the visitors ahead after one minute, but Manuel Gulde scrambled his effort off the line. Pavard saw a header saved, Müller's rebound crashing off the post. Davies soon charged down the left and shone with a pinpoint cross to Lewandowski, who slotted past netminder Mark Flekken to put Bayern ahead. The striker saw another effort saved before Freiburg got a grip on the contest.

Neuer, who had barely touched the ball owing to Bayern's dominance, made a fine save against Lucas Höler. Grifo blasted over the bar before seeing an effort saved, Coutinho firing just wide from the edge of the box, and match official Sascha Stegemann blew for half-time.

Late reward

Gnabry and Müller fired over the bar, but Freiburg pressed for an equaliser now, and it arrived when a Janik Haberer cross found the unmarked Grifo, who crashed past Neuer. The goal boosted the home side, Nils Petersen firing wide before Neuer denied Nicolas Höfler.

Flekken directed a Perišić effort over the bar at the other end. Freiburg sub Brandon Borrello curled a shot just wide before a Gnabry goal was ruled out for offside. Perišić scrambled the ball off the line following a corner, Lewandowski miscuing a header at the other end. Gnabry set up the unmarked Zirkzee, who beat Flekken to restore Bayern's lead. Gnabry rounded off the scoreline with the final whistle imminent, seeing a shot parried by Flekken before converting the rebound.

The result means Bayern have 30 points from 16 matches, lying third in the table. The Bavarians will be back in action on Saturday, when they entertain Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen