Bundesliga finally returned to resume its season after being suspended in March due to the widespread coronavirus pandemic. A match was held between Union Berlin and Bayern Munich, with the latter team emerging victorious.
Indeed, Robert Lewandowski scored his 26th goal of the Bundesliga season, and 40th in all competitions, which gave Bayern their first goal. This kept Bayern Munich four points clear on top of the Bundesliga table, with Benjamin Pavard adding a second goal later.
League leaders Bayern took control of the early possession in Berlin as was expected, but in fact it was the home side that produced the game’s first chance.
After good work down Marcus Ingvartsen’s right flank Marius Bülter forced a save from Manuel Neuer. 18 minutes into the game, when Thomas Müller poked home from close proximity, Bayern thought they had gone ahead but he was in an offside position from Serge Gnabry’s initial header to goal.
With their high defensive line earning six offside calls in the first half against the home side, Bayern continued to maintain control and then took the lead before the break.
Leon Goretzka beat Neven Subotic to a loose ball in the ball and won a penalty from the challenge of the Serbian defender. Lewandowski stepped up against fellow Pole Rafal Gikiewicz and slotted his home spot-kick for his 26th league goal this season.
The game continued into the second half in its even state, with Leon Goretzka approaching a second goal for Bayern, while at the other end, Grischa Prömel sent a half-volley wide across the target. However, Hansi Flick’s troops still kept control of the game while remaining sufficiently composed to not force themselves forward.
With 20 minutes to play, top Union scorer Sebastian Andersson came on. Gnabry had a couple of chances of putting the game to bed but it was Pavard who did the job by scoring a goal from a corner in Joshua Kimmich. Neuer made sure of his clean sheet with a late save from Felix Kroos as Bayern restored their four-point cushion in front of Borussia Dortmund and the chasing pack at the top of the Bundesliga table.
Meanwhile, the another game of the day ended with a draw between Cologne and Mainz (2-2). Bundesliga debutant Taiwo Awoniyi and Pierre Kunde scored second-half goals as Mainz came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with fellow Karneval club Cologne.
Here are the details of the Bayern match:
Union Berlin 0-2 Bayern Munich
Goals: 0-1 Lewandowski (40′), 0-2 Pavard (80′)
Line-ups:
Union: Gikiewicz – Hübner, Schlotterbeck, Subotic – Trimmel (c), Prömel (Kroos 85′), Andrich (Gentner 71′), Lenz – Ingvartsen (Mees 81′), Bülter (Ryerson 85′) – Ujah (Andersson 70′)
Unused subs: Nicolas, Reichel, Parensen, Polter
Out: Becker (thigh), Friedrich (suspended), Gogia (match fitness), Malli (match fitness)
Coach: Urs Fischer
Bayern: Neuer (c) – Pavard, Boateng, Alaba, Davies – Kimmich, Thiago – Gnabry (Perisic 85′), Goretzka (Coman 71′), Müller ( Cuisance 89′) – Lewandowski
Unused subs: Ulreich, Odriozola, Hernandez, Mai, Zirkzee
Out: Coutinho (ankle), Martinez (match fitness), Süle (match fitness), Tolisso (ankle)
Coach: Hansi Flick
