Bundesliga

2022-03-20T07:55:00Z

Bayern return to winning ways with Union triumph

A Robert Lewandowski double - with one from the penalty spot - and further goals from Kingsley Coman and Tanguy Nianzou helped Bayern Munich to ease past Union Berlin, with the Bavarians extending their overnight Bundesliga lead in the process.

Bayern Munich 4-0 Union Berlin
Goals: 1-0 Coman 16' (assist: Hernandez), 2-0 Nianzou 25' (assist: Kimmich), 3-0 Lewandowski (pen.) 45+1', 4-0 Lewandowski 47' (assist: Musiala)

Although chasing a top-six finish, the visitors brought a disappointing recent away record to the Allianz Arena, not that you'd have guessed it based on the start Urs Fischer's side made to this Matchday 27 encounter. No goals scored in three consecutive losses on the road appeared to act as a catalyst for Union to improve. Sheraldo Becker nodded narrowly wide and the forward then almost teed up teammate Taiwo Awoniyi as the capital side laid early claims to an upset. The problem for Union was that Julian Nagelsmann's side were also due a domestic lift, the record champions going into this one winless in two top-flight matches for the first time in over a year. Thus, when a menacing Lewandowski threatened briefly, it was a forewarning for the opener, a long-range Coman effort that flew through the attempted punch of Andreas Luthe. Die Eisernen's good start subsequently disappeared into the distance when Luthe scrambled with, and ultimately failed to keep out Tanguy Nianzou's downward header from Joshua Kimmich's corner. If they were now in pole position, Bayern were out of sight by the break, Lewandowski scoring from the penalty spot after the the Bundesliga's leading marksman had been upended by Luthe.

Having now extended his record against Union with goals in each of his five games against The Irons, Lewandowski set his sights on increasing his lead atop the scoring charts. The second half began with the perfect opportunity to do just that, with Lewy happily accepting a pass from Jamal Musiala before netting what was his seventh goal against these opponents. Undeterred, Union kept going and the away side tested Manuel Neuer with a Genki Haraguchi shot that the 'keeper palmed away. Awoniyi reacted quickly to send the loose ball back towards the goal, where Lucas Hernandez was waiting to clear. At the other end, Gnabry found the side netting before Corentin Tolisso hit the crossbar but the result was beyond doubt by that stage, with Bayern moving a provisional seven points clear and placing the spotlight back on second-placed Borussia Dortmund.

Match stats

Watch: Nagelsmann: “Manuel Neuer is so important to Bayern”

Line-ups

Bayern: Neuer (c) - Stanisic, Nianzou, Upamecano, Hernandez - Kimmich (Tolisso 75'), Musiala (Sabitzer 61') - Coman (Gnabry 68'), Müller (Choupo-Moting 75'), Sane (Roca 75') - Lewandowski
Unused subs: Ulreich, Richards, Goretzka, Sarr
Out: Davies (heart), Pavard (not included), Süle (hamstring)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann

Union: Luthe - Jaeckel, Knoche, Baumgartl - Khedira (c) - Ryerson, Becker (Michel 73'), Möhwald (Schäfer 62'), Oczipka - Haraguchi (Ujah 84') - Awoniyi (Voglsammer 62')
Unused subs: Rönnow, Behrens, Dehl, Somnitz, Abdullahi
Out: Endo (leg), Gießelmann (ill), Heintz (suspended), Öztunali (not included), Prömel (suspended)
Coach: Urs Fischer 

Watch: Musiala: "Manuel Neuer's always amazed me"

Related news
Discover more

Finding out who is broadcasting your favourite game is as easy as:

  1. Download the Bundesliga app
  2. Click on matches
  3. Get where to watch the game according to your location!