Munich – Second-placed Wolfsburg thrashed league leaders Bayern Munich 4-1, bringing them within eight points of each other, in the 18th round of the Bundesliga’s return after its traditional German winter break. It was also Bayern’s first defeat this season in the German league, where they had previously recorded 14 wins and three draws.
This first setback allows Wolfsburg to strengthen its second place and to get below the psychological barrier of ten points in its disadvantage over the Munich team, who now see their advantage reduced to eight points.
A brace from Dutchman Bas Dost (minutes 4 and 45+2) had already put the game on track for Wolfsburg, who extended their lead in the 53rd minute with a goal from Belgian Kevin De Bruyne.
Bayern reduced the deficit in the 55th minute through Spaniard Juan Bernat, but De Bruyne (73) scored again and sealed the final 4-1, a surprising setback that marks at least a change of tone in the German tournament, which until now had been a walk in the park for the reigning champions.
The Munich team found themselves 2-0 down at half-time for the first time in three years.
This 4-1 is the biggest defeat suffered in the Bundesliga since they fell 5-1 in April 2009, precisely against Wolfsburg, who that year were crowned champions. Germany.
The victory in Wolfsburg was dedicated to the memory of their former Belgian player Junior Malanda, who died earlier this month in a car accident. Both teams wore a black armband in his memory.
Bas Dost opened the scoring in the 4th minute with a low shot that surprised Manuel Neuer, and in added time of the first half the Dutch player took advantage of a bad clearance from the rival defence with a volley to make it 2-0.
De Bruyne scored his first goal of the night after finishing off a very quick counterattack and Bernat shortened the gap with a cross shot from inside the area.
Once again on a counterattack, De Bruyne, accurate in the area, made it 4-1 on the scoreboard.
For Guardiola, “it was fair”
“They were better in key moments. We lost too many balls and couldn’t control their counterattacks,” admitted Bayern coach Josep Guardiola.
Bastian Schweinsteiger was captain of the Bavarians, replacing the injured Philipp Lahm, and also acknowledged his team’s poor performance: “We made a lot of mistakes and let them attack on the counterattack.”
In Wolfsburg, the victory was greeted with euphoria.
“We played a great game. If you want to beat Bayern you need a day like the one we had today,” said Bayern coach Dieter Hecking.
The 18th German matchday continues on Saturday with six games.
The clash between Bayer Leverkusen, third, and Borussia Dortmund, second to last in the table, stands out.
The former are under pressure and if they don’t win they will see their gap to second place widen, which is now 9 points, while Dortmund, who were aiming for everything at the start of the season, will try to show that this second half of the season could be very different from the first, which was catastrophic for their interests.
(fuente: fifa.com)
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2024-08-01 01:34:09
