Bayern gets revenge on Freiburg ahead of Man City game
Munich's Matthijs de Ligt , second left, celebrates scoring with teammates Benjamin Pavard, left, Joao Pedro Cavaco Cancelo and Alphonso Davies, right, during the Bundesliga soccer match between SC Freiburg and Bayern Munich at Europa-Park Stadion, Freiburg, Germany, Saturday April 8, 2023. Credit: AP/Tom Weller
FREIBURG, Germany — Bayern Munich partly avenged its elimination from the German Cup by Freiburg midweek by winning their Bundesliga match 1-0 to keep the lead on Saturday.
Bayern stayed two points clear of Borussia Dortmund ahead of a Champions League quarterfinal with Manchester City on Tuesday, but it was hardly a comfortable win.
Just as in the cup quarterfinal loss to Freiburg on Tuesday — and in stark contrast to last week's demolition of Dortmund in the “Klassiker” — Bayern struggled to finish off a determined and defensively well-organized Freiburg.
Matthijs de Ligt's speculative and powerful shot from distance, deflected into the top left corner, made the difference but Freiburg had chances to draw. Ritsu Doan hit the post for Freiburg just before the break and only another strong game from goalkeeper Yann Sommer, in place of the injured Manuel Neuer, kept Bayern's lead intact.
DORTMUND BEATS UNION
Dortmund was on track for a third straight game without a win, and a four-point gap which could have meant the end of the title race, until substitute Youssoufa Moukoko took full advantage of a glaring error from Union to score in a 2-1 win.
Donyell Malen's 28th-minute opening goal was canceled by Kevin Behrens as Union sought valuable points in its quest to qualify for the Champions League for the first time.
Munich's Thomas Muller, left, and Freiburg's Nicolas Hofler battle for the ball during the Bundesliga soccer match between SC Freiburg and Bayern Munich at Europa-Park Stadion, Freiburg, Germany, Saturday April 8, 2023. Credit: AP/Tom Weller
That work was undone when Union's Paul Seguin botched an attempt to control the ball and accidentally played the perfect pass for the 18-year-old Moukoko to round the goalkeeper and score.
OTHER GAMES
Bayer Leverkusen and coach Xabi Alonso continued their hot form with a seventh consecutive win in all competitions, beating Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1. With forwards Patrik Schick and Adam Hlozek injured, the wingers stepped up for Leverkusen as Amine Adli and Moussa Diaby both scored.
Leverkusen next heads into a Europa League quarterfinal against Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise on Thursday.
Dortmund's Youssoufa Moukoko celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Union Berlin in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, April 8, 2023. Credit: AP/Martin Meissner
Cologne ended a six-game winless run by beating Augsburg 3-1.
Mainz drew with Werder Bremen 2-2 after a late flurry of goals, with all four scored after the 85th minute as Bremen twice leveled the score.
Hertha Berlin hosted Leipzig late.
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