Three days after the 0:5 in Mönchengladbach, FC Bayern bounced back with a 5:2 at Union Berlin. The Munich side started the game well and laid the foundations for the away win early on – but they also revealed weaknesses.
After just over half an hour, it looked like a pretty clear affair. Sané had just scored the 3:0 for FC Bayern, the Munich team was on top, Union Berlin was threatening a debacle. But the reaction of the Eisern was impressive.
For more than 30 minutes, Bayern had dominated the game at will and underlined their superiority with three goals in the person of Lewandowski (15th, hand penalty, 23rd, indirect free kick) and Sané (34th) – but then Union also showed its class. The result: a very entertaining football match, in which the individual quality of Bayern was not hidden, but in which Union also managed to expose the shortcomings of the Munich team.
Nagelsmann changes his starting eleven in four positions
After the 0:5 in Mönchengladbach, Julian Nagelsmann, still in isolation, had changed his starting eleven in four positions. Süle, Stanisic, Tolisso and Coman started instead of Upamecano, Pavard, Goretzka and Gnabry. Union also made four changes compared to the cup match in Mannheim. Luthe returned to goal, replacing Rönnow, and Gießelmann, Khedira and Awoniyi also played for Oczipka, Voglsammer and Behrens.
At the start, Bayern left no questions unanswered and stepped on the gas. Union were often left trailing, but in the closing stages of the first half, the Berliners also found their way into the game. Gießelmann reduced the deficit (43rd) – and after the restart, the Eisern had their best phase. Several times they came close to scoring the equaliser, because Bayern were not always on their toes defensively when Union went fast, but then Coman scored out of the blue (60th).
It didn’t take long for substitute Ryerson to respond again (64th), but it was Müller who scored the final goal with just over ten minutes remaining (79th). In the end, Bayern deserved to win, but the 90 minutes also showed that the team is currently more vulnerable than usual.
On Tuesday (9 p.m.) they will play Benfica Lisbon in the Champions League, Union Berlin will meet Feyenoord Rotterdam in the Conference League on Thursday (9 p.m.)
