Bayern maintained their perfect start to the new campaign and equalled the club record of nine straight wins at the start of a season with a deserved victory over northern foes Werder Bremen on Saturday, although Jupp Heynckes’ men were up against classy opponents on the day and had to show great patience before Luiz Gustavo and Mario Mandzukic wrapped up the points in the last ten minutes.
The 42,100 capacity crowd at the Weser stadium saw two high-quality sides effectively neutralise each other in the first half, so that the nearest either side came to a goal was Claudio Pizarro’s powerful header from a corner on the stroke of half-time.
Franck Ribery angled a shot off the post as the visitors started the second half brightly, but although FCB created much the better of the chances in an increasingly open encounter, the ruthlessness of recent weeks was a shade lacking on the day. That all changed ten minutes from the end when Gustavo and Mandzukic struck a 120-second double whammy to seal the hard-earned but deserved sixth league victory of term.
The result means Bayern move onto the maximum 18 points from six matches, now five clear of Eintracht Frankfurt, who play on Sunday, and fully seven ahead of Schalke. It is a truly fine opening to the campaign, but there is no time to stop and celebrate, as the Bavarians’ next match is the Champions League trip to BATE Borisov on Tuesday.
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