The dethroned series champion FC Bayern Munich has already warmed up for the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid and pushed 1. FC Union Berlin even deeper into the relegation battle of the Bundesliga. The Munich team won the top game in the evening 5:1 (2:0) and remained unbeaten in the tenth duel with the Köpenick team, who were in serious danger of relegation.
In front of 22,012 spectators in the An der Alten Försterei stadium, Leon Goretzka (29th minute) and Harry Kane gave the extremely dominant guests the lead with a directly converted free kick (45th minute). Thomas Müller (53rd/66th), who was in the starting line-up for the 400th time in a Bundesliga game, and Mathys Tel (62nd) increased the number. Müller scored a goal for the first time on matchday 30. The original Bavarian had already scored on all other match days. Yorbe Vertessen (90.1) scored for the hosts shortly before the end.
For Union, the decisive weeks begin now – they now face their direct relegation rivals from Mönchengladbach, Bochum and Cologne.
No coaching talks with Zidane?
Given that the championship has long been decided, the Munich victory seems almost meaningless. At the end of the season, the team’s focus is entirely on the only remaining chance for the title and the premier class semi-final against Madrid on April 30th. And the management team around Max Eberl also has significantly more burning topics on their to-do list with the search for a successor to coach Thomas Tuchel.
“We are very final and will hopefully be able to announce something soon,” said Eberl. According to the sports director, former world champion Zinédine Zidane, who was recently discussed, is also not an issue. One criterion is that the new trainer speaks at least English. “I don’t know if he speaks English,” said Eberl, indicating that he had not spoken to the Frenchman.
400th Bundesliga starting eleven for Müller
Tuchel changed his starting eleven to six positions. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s team pushed the Berliners deep into their own half, which made the spaces very narrow. “This makes it harder for us than if we can counter,” explained Tuchel, who will be employed until the summer, and predicted: “But we will get our moments of change.”
Fortune teller Tuchel was right. After almost 30 minutes, the Munich team built up their attack via young star Tel. Goretzka was lurking in the penalty area and slammed the Frenchman’s low cross under the crossbar. Just as the Unioners were creating more and more scoring opportunities and had their best chance to date with Robin Gosens’ volley, Kane increased the score with a picture-perfect free kick.
First fog, then Müller
At the beginning of the second half, the Unioners lacked perspective. First of all, because the Bayern fans lit up in their block and obscured the view of Union goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow. Then when a cross from Choupo-Moting sailed over the heads of the Berlin defenders and landed on the foot of Müller.
The Berlin resistance was now finally broken and Bayern went into a bit of a frenzy. The Union defense switched off completely and goalkeeper Rönnow complained loudly. First Tel was allowed to go, then Müller finished the game with his second goal. Union certainly had opportunities, but as is so often the case, effectiveness was lacking.
