Patient Bayern overcome Freiburg

FC Bayern beat SC Freiburg 4-1 thanks to a strong second-half display, consolidating their lead in the table. Comeback kid Leon Goretzka handed Bayern the lead after half-time, sub Nils Petersen levelling the scores five minutes later. Serge Gnabry restored Bayern's lead before Kingsley Coman and Marcel Sabitzer settled the contest in the closing stages.

The Bavarians started with with Manuel Neuer in goal and Benjamin Pavard, Dayot Upamecano, Tanguy Nianzou and Lucas Hernández in defence. Joshua Kimmich and Goretzka featured in a twin holding role behind Coman, Thomas Müller and Leroy Sané, with Robert Lewandowski up front. Jamal Musiala, Corentin Tolisso, Gnabry and Sabitzer took over from Lewandowski, Goretzka, Pavard and Coman in the second half, with Niklas Süle replacing Tolisso in the closing stages.

No goals

The 34,700 crowd in Freiburg saw a first half that was full of attacking intent but short on chances. Bayern were dominant but struggled against the hosts' solid defence. Goretzka tested keeper Mark Flekken and Kimmich saw an effort blocked. Nianzou miscued a header and Sané had an effort from distance saved before the game entered a scrappy phase.

The match opened up a little towards the end of the first half, Roland Sallai drawing a comfortable save from Neuer. Flekken only just managed to parry Kimmich's goal-bound corner before Nico Schlotterbeck headed over at the other end. Flekken denied Coman before referee Christian Dingert blew for half-time.

Reds rev up

Coman's perceptive pass found Müller in the box, but the Bavarian struggled to control the ball at the beginning of a lively second half. Munich broke the deadlock when Goretzka beat Flekken to Kimmich's free-kick and headed in, crowning his comeback after four months on the sidelines. However, the joy did not last long, Vincenzo Grifo soon finding Petersen, who crashed home only seconds after coming off the bench.

Bayern restored the lead ten minutes later, Gnabry controlling a Hernández cross and poking the ball past Flekken with his first spell of possession. Musiala fired over the bar, Neuer denying Lucas Höler. Coman soon put the game to bed, latching onto Upamecano's long ball and beating Flekken. Kimmich miscued an effort, but the final flourish came deep into added time, Gnabry's cutback inviting Sabitzer to slot home.

The result means Bayern have 66 points from 28 matches, nine ahead of Dortmund, who take on Leipzig later on Saturday. The Bavarians will be back in action on Wednesday when they travel to face Villarreal in the Champions League.

Live match report for fcbayern.comby Greg Salmen