Bayern Munich 1-1 SC Freiburg: Initial reactions and random observations

Full time: That was an abject performance from Bayern. Incredible start but just not enough created. Bayern shouldn’t have drawn this game. Now the team stand 5 points behind Dortmund and even a Klassiker win can get us back on top of the table. Here are some initial observations from the game:

• Kovac’s subs were once again baffling. Ribery on for Robben? James off? Why?
• Boateng and Sule’s defending on the goal was absolutely abysmal. Terrible end to what could have been a good game from them.
• Bayern conceding goals at the death isn’t like us. We didn’t used to be like this.
• Kimmich in midfield isn’t the answer. Let’s not keep making this a thing.
• Aside from his goal, Gnabry was very poor.
• This is really looking like a coaching crisis for Bayern.

Stay tuned for our in-depth match observations and awards!

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88’: Freiburg scores. That was terrible.

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82’: Substitution: Leon Goretzka subbed on for Serge Gnabry.

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80’: GOAL Gnabry! Bayern Munich 1-0 SC Freiburg.

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79’: Yellow card to Rafinha for a dumb challenge.

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75’: This is not even a game observation, I speak for every Bayern Munich fan when I say that I’m completely miserable.

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70’: Substitution: Thomas Muller subbed on for James Rodriguez. We will never see these two on the pitch together with Kovac in charge.

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62’: Substitution: Franck Ribery comes on for Arjen Robben.

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59’: There was a possible handball in the box but the ref used VAR and awarded just a corner instead.

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53’: Kimmich makes a foul that leads to a free kick, and Freiburg score. Except it was offside. Thank goodness, Bayern are starting to lose control of this game now.

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45’: The second half is underway!!! Hopefully Bayern can make the most of the momentum and score a few goals. No subs at half time from Kovac.

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HT: A solid performance so far, but no goals. Here are some observations from the first half of Bayern Munich vs SC Freiburg:

• Bayern started the game at 1000 mph. Of course that kind of pace was impossible to maintain, so we slowed down in the latter part of the second half.
• There’s been a good deal of gegenpressing in the midfield. This was supposed to be a feature of Kovac’s system, but it’s been absent these last few games. We’re finally seeing it again.
• Niklas Sule is playing as the stopper to Jerome Boateng’s libero. It’s working well so far. Freiburg don’t have a shot on goal.
• Serge Gnabry was underwhelming. Apart from one pass to Robert Lewandowski, he didn’t threaten much.

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35’: Bayern are doing everything right but not scoring. Robben had an amazing shot that was somehow saved. What did we do to deserve this?

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26’: Robert Lewandowski misses a chance from close range when 1v1 with the keeper. The opportunity came from a nice pass by Serge Gnabry.

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25’: Freiburg are hanging on for their lives, but the last ditch blocks and clearances are still keeping Bayern at bay.

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15’: What a start! All that’s missing is goals right now. Bayern are pressing, passing, and running like absolute monsters. Freiburg can only cower in their box at the moment. Hopefully this doesn’t become another Monchengladbach where Bayern had all the momentum but BMG scored.

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Kickoff: We’re underway in Munich! Can Kovac get all three points? Considering the unconventional lineup he chose, he’d better.

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One hour until kickoff: Lineups are out! Kimmich in midfield, James Rodriguez as the attacking midfielder.

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Bayern Munich return to Bundesliga action today with a game against SC Freiburg at the Allianz Arena. In years gone by, this fixture would be seen as three easy points for the Bavarians. However, such is the situation today that Bayern come into this game looking distinctly more vulnerable than usual.

Since Dortmund take on Wolfsburg this matchday we can basically assume that Bayern won’t be making it to first place until the Klassiker rolls around next week (at the earliest). Instead, the name of the game this week is to keep the winning run going, and keep the likes of Werder Bremen from overtaking us in the table.

To do this however, Niko Kovac is missing some key squad members. Kingsley Coman and Corentin Tolisso remain sidelined with long term injuries, while more worryingly Thiago Alcantara will be unavailable due to an ankle injury he picked up in midweek. With the Klassiker looming, Kovac will be hard pressed to find a solution to Bayern’s midfield problem — luckily he has the likes of James Rodriguez, Renato Sanches, and Leon Goretzka to step in if need be. Still, with Freiburg coming off a win against Borussia Monchengladbach, this match promises to be anything but easy.

It’s Bayern time.

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Match Info

Location: Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany

Time: 3:30 pm local time, 9:30 am EST

TV/streaming: Find Your Country

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