Bayern Munich needed to show progress in front of their fans after their three-match winless run, and that is exactly what they did against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday. The German champions prevailed by as score of 4-1 to take the first game of a crucial two-match Champions League stretch.
The Bavarians could thank one of their beloved veterans for their success. Arjen Robben, starting in his third game this season, ran at his former team almost the whole game, and finally got a goal to show for it just before his substitution. His effort got a huge ovation from the crowd, even responding to a curtain call before returning from the bench.
The victory kept Bayern three points behind of group rivals Atletico Madrid, who remain unbeaten after their 1-0 victory over FK Rostov. With the way results are unfolding at the moment, the two semifinalists from last season will be playing for the group victory when they meet in Allianz Arena in December on the final matchday of the group stage.
The three match winless stretch was an indicator of a mini-crisis in Munich. Ancelotti hinted several times that Bayern needed to change their attitude. His tough love seemed successful as Bayern unleashed 16 shots in the first half. Though the Bavarians did not completely dominate the game, the performance was a strong rebound to their recent games.
“We know what we need to do. We have so much experience in this team, and we need to change some things,” Robben told ZDF after the game. “I believe it can only get better with time.”
Their rediscovered intensity allowed Bayern to control the game in the early periods. They dominated possession in the first twenty minutes, toeing and flicking the ball to each other to unpin the PSV defense. In the 13th minute, Thomas Müller caught the PSV defense napping and called for a short corner from Robben before forcing it past Jeroen Zoet ash the near post.
Joshua Kimmich doubled the scoreline eight minutes later, heading in a high-arcing cross from David Alaba, his fourth goal in five games. But the two goal lead made Bayern get sloppy at the back, and PSV were finally able to break forward on the counter. Their fortune finally ran out when Gaston Pereiro slid a pass over to Luciano Narsingh before the Dutch winger fired a shot off Manuel Neuer’s gloves.
Bayern struggled to retake their hold on the game in the second half, Pereiro nearly finding the equalizer after volleying a cross from Narsingh off Neuer’s gloves. Robben’s run’s forward helped Bayern reestablish a presence in the attacking third, even forcing a save out of Zoet after a full-throttle counter-attack at the hour mark. One of his efforts finally found the back of the net around the hour mark, Zoet stopping his shot from the right wing momentarily before Robert Lewandowski headed the ball in.
Robben finally got his goal just before time, heading in a spot on lob from Thiago. The goal was his first since March and increased Bayern’s lead to three goals.
The victory for Bayern increased their home winning streak to fourteen games in the Champions League. The two teams play again in two weeks in Eindhoven when the Champions League returns in November.
Match Details
Bayern Munich (1-0) PSV Eindhoven
FCB: Thomas Müller (13’), Joshua Kimmich (21’), Robert Lewandowski (59’), Arjen Robben (84’)
PSV: Luciano Narsingh (41’)
Bayern XI: Neuer – Lahm, Boateng, Hummels, Alaba – Kimmich (Martinez 85’), Alonso, Thiago – Robben (Renato Sanches 87’), Lewandowski, Müller (Douglas 72’)
PSV XI: Zoet – Brenet, Schwaab (Zinchenko 85’), Moreno, Willems – Perreiro (Bergwijn 77’), Pröpper, de Jong, Guardado (Isimat-Mirin 61’) – Narsingh, de Jong