The Bayern players celebrated their 3-1 home victory against Borussia Mönchengladbach together with their fans in the Südkurve on Saturday afternoon. Together, team and supporters were getting in the mood for the upcoming top-of-the-table clash with Bayer Leverkusen.
It was an important but also hard-fought success on Matchday 20. Important, because Bayern were able to build further confidence with a third win in succession. It was a result that ensured Bayern still have their title destiny in their own hands. Hard-fought, because Saturday's opposition proved as resilient as usual.
Bayern turn Gladbach match around
While Bayern dominated the game for the most part and had outstanding chances to score an early goal, the guests from Mönchengladbach took the lead with Nico Elvedi's goal after 35 minutes. However, Bayern proved unperturbed, kept attacking, and rewarded themselves with the equaliser before half-time. “The reaction to the goal we conceded was very good. It was important to make it 1-1 before the break,” commented sporting director Christoph Freund of Aleksandar Pavlovic’s equaliser on 45 minutes.
Praise for Pavlovic
Once more it was young Pavlovic, who has integrated into the Bayern first team in outstanding fashion in recent weeks and was previously responsible for Bayern’s first goal in Augsburg. “Aleks plays with great confidence, he's a skilled football player and a really good guy. He has now scored two important goals for us. Big credit to him and the team. They make it very easy for him. He's doing very well,” Thomas Tuchel said in praise of the youngster.
Bayern relief after Kane's goal
After half-time, Germany's record champions kept up the tempo and pushed hard to go ahead. Harry Kane finally produced the deserved lead after 70 minutes. It was the English striker’s 24th goal of the season, which equalled the Bundesliga record for most goals after 20 matchdays set by Robert Lewandowski in the 2020/21 season.
De Ligt settles things with special celebration
Four minutes before the end, central defender Matthijs De Ligt settled the game by making it 3-1. The goal was further proof of Bayern's special strength this season, as it was the team’s 13th headed goal, far more than any other Bundesliga side. After his goal, De Ligt sprinted to the substitute’s bench and celebrated with Frans Krätzig. Following Friday’s training session, De Ligt had specifically practised headers with his defensive colleague. Further proof that practice makes perfect!
Getting ready for top match against Leverkusen
A perfect season is what Bayern could celebrate with a 12th successive league title. In order to achieve this goal, the Reds are determined to collect the next victory in their top-of-the-table clash in Leverkusen next Saturday. “Leverkusen is a completely different game. They're playing an outstanding campaign. The point tally of both teams is very high,” coach Tuchel commented on the close title race of historic proportions. Never before in league history have the two teams at the top of the Bundesliga table collected this many points following 20 matches. For Bayern it’s their best tally at this stage for six years when they also had 50 points in 2017/18.
Bayern are now aiming to use the upcoming week of training to ideally prepare for the encounter. “We will use the time we have. Our express goal travelling to Leverkusen is to hand them their first defeat and to overtake them in the table. We need top performances in all positions and have to deliver from minute one,” Tuchel clarified his team's ambitions.
Müller: “Hammering home that we'll beat Leverkusen”
Following the win against Gladbach, the Bayern team got in the mood for the upcoming clash with Leverkusen, first with their fans and then in the changing room. Thomas Müller, who reached a milestone 500th win with Bayern, exclaimed: “We hammered home that we can beat Leverkusen as well. I think we're on the right track to win away from home in Leverkusen next week.”
Everyone is looking forward to the top-of-the-table clash and Bayern are ready. Let's go!
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