Arminia Bielefeld held FC Bayern to a 0-0 draw for a long time with luck and good sense. In the end, however, the individual class of the Munich side, who had missed numerous chances, was on hand for once. And so the champions will travel to Dortmund as league leaders for the top match.
Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann wanted to put the recent quarrels around the club (loud criticism at the annual general meeting, topic Corona around Kimmich) behind him in a sporting way – and after the recent 2-1 in the Champions League in Kiev, already the sixth competitive match in a row with at least one goal conceded, play to nil again.
And lo and behold, his charges around goal-scoring star Lewandowski or central defender Upamecano, who lined up in a 3-2-4-1, went about their business with vigour in the clash with outsiders Arminia Bielefeld: After first calm minutes, FC Bayern took full control, pressed DSC completely defensively inside and created chances by the dozen.
How jinxed: No FCB goal scored
But neither Müller with a header (6th minute), Müller with a scissor kick (7th), Sané with a powerful finish (11th), the dribbling Davies with a shot from a few metres (15th) nor Sané, whose shot was deflected (21st), found the way into the net. It was almost a miracle that coach Frank Kramer’s Arminia (last 2:2 against Wolfsburg and with four points from two games) could take a 0:0 into the break. Müller (22nd) and Lewandowski with a header from close range (33rd) also failed to score. The best man for the visitors was definitely keeper Ortega in his 200th competitive game for DSC, the goalkeeper really made a lot of good saves.
The visitors, who of course again fielded striker Klos or the recently revitalised Okugawa up front, managed very little in front of Neuer’s goal apart from a powerful attempt by Wimmer, which was blocked by Okugawa, of all people, who was in the way (42nd). This did not change after the change of ends, but Sané (46th and 57th) and Müller (49th) left something to be desired. And when Lewandowski missed the ball very narrowly in front of the opponent’s box in minute 66, it all seemed like a jinx at times.
Sané smashes one in
In the 71st minute, however, the reigning champions broke the spell. It was Sané who, after a fine combination via Joker Musiala and Müller, flicked the ball into the top left corner from distance. The strong Ortega had nothing to do here, and Pieper was also too late with his save.
It was to remain the only goal of the evening, also because Coman once again despaired of the strong Ortega (77th) and Joker Gnabry only hit the crossbar after a beautiful solo (78th). Despite their best efforts, the visitors failed to produce anything offensively.
And so FC Bayern passed BVB again in the table (one point more) with a 1:0 working victory – and that one week before the absolute firecracker in Dortmund. Bielefeld are already in action on the same day at 3.30 p.m. against Cologne.
