"Like a dream," said Thomas Müller as the FC Bayern pros climbed onto the team bus after Sunday night's Bundesliga fixture at SC Freiburg for the return journey to Munich. Thanks to a convincing 4-0 win against SCF, the league leaders now have a 20-point lead and only need three wins from the remaining nine games to successfully defend the Bundesliga title. The mood in the Bayern camp was suitably relaxed after the game.
"It was a good game and a very committed performance from us. We wanted to show what we could do after last week's draw. We've done that. That's why we’re really pleased," said Müller. And goalkeeper Sven Ulreich talked about the third game in succession without conceding as a "good and dominant" performance by the record champions away to the team 13th in Germany's top flight.
Ulreich prevents SCF taking lead
The Bayern side, with six changes to the starting line-up, needed a good 20 minutes to find their rhythm against a lively Freiburg team. During this period, Ulreich made an impressive save to keep out Freiburg's Lucas Höler on 12 minutes and prevent FCB going a goal down against hosts who had only lost one game on their own ground prior to this weekend's match.
"If you know how Freiburg normally play at home then it's not simply a very good result. We also put on an outstanding display in all respects," declared Jupp Heynckes in his assessment of the match. The Bayern coach has not lost a point or conceded a goal in his last six games in charge against SCF. "I'm very happy with my team today, it was one of our best games of the season. I was very impressed."
Heynckes praises quality of his team
Within a space of four minutes, an own goal from Freiburg's keeper Alexander Schwolow (25) forced by Müller plus a fine long-range strike from Corentin Tolisso (28) set Bayern on course for victory. The hosts were not able to recover from that double blow and Sandro Wagner (54) and Müller (69) added their names to the goalscorer's list after the break to secure a straightforward away win.
"Once we take the lead, it's difficult for our opponents," said Heynckes about the quality of his team, which he later praised for their use of space, pressing, confidence on the ball and assured creativity: "We were very good at pressing high up the pitch when necessary. We were also able to sit back and settle things down. We produced a first-class performance."
Next Saturday (15.30 CET) brings the opportunity to repeat that level of performance and take the next step to the title with a home game against Hamburg SV. "Of course, we want to win every game. We’ll be happy when we get there but for the moment we are focusing week by week on picking up three points per game," said Ulreich before disappearing onto the team bus.
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