Penalty goal scored by R. Lewandowski for Bayern Munich!
LEWANDOWSKI MAKES NO MISTAKE! 5-1 Bayern! The striker waits for Sommer to move before coolly dispatching his penalty into the bottom-left corner of the goal!
90'
The referee indicates an additional two minutes at the end of the match for stoppages.
88'
Despite looking wonderfully poised at half-time, the second period of play has been rather lacklustre as Bayern Munich have easily pulled away from their opponents – leaving BORUSSIA-PARK with absolutely no doubts about who is more deserving of the three points.
86'
Jeong Woo-Yeong enters the game and replaces T. Müller.
Another young Bayern Munich player will get a chance to feature as Muller departs for Jeong.
83'
A. Davies enters the game and replaces S. Gnabry.
Gnabry has been thoroughly brilliant in this match – and he fully deserves his early rest. On in his place is young Canada international Davies.
80'
Renato Sanches enters the game and replaces J. Rodríguez.
James exits the match with an assist to his name as Renato Sanches is given a 10-minute runout.
78'
Gladbach are no longer pressing with any intensity as Munich knock the ball around in defence. It’s been a demoralising day for the hosts who are surely just waiting for the full-time whistle.
76'
F. Johnson enters the game and replaces M. Lang.
Lang has been run ragged today by Gnabry, and he will not see out the match as Johnson comes in for the final 14 minutes.
75'
S. Gnabry has scored a goal for Bayern Munich!
GNABRY MAKES IT FOUR! Kimmich gets free on the right-hand side and lifts a cross into the penalty area for Lewandowski to nod towards goal. Sommer makes the initial save but he cannot do much about the rebound as Gnabry comes storming into the six-yard box to tap home the rebound! Bayern Munich are putting Gladbach to the sword!
Minute
Description
72'
Raffael enters the game and replaces J. Hofmann.
Hecking throws another striker on the pitch as Raffael replaces Hofmann who was previously booked.
70'
C. Kramer gets yellow.
Kramer is shown Gladbach’s second yellow card of the match for a challenge on Kimmich born out of frustration.
67'
Lang makes a desperate last-ditch slide which successfully dispossesses Rafinha – though Bayern do win a corner-kick for their troubles.
65'
D. Zakaria enters the game and replaces F. Neuhaus.
Hecking has seen more than enough as he makes his first alteration of the match as Neuhaus is recalled for Zakaria.
63'
Hofmann takes the free-kick from its position just inside the right touchline, but he cannons his effort off the wall in a desperately poor attempt. A good delivery could have led to a second Gladbach goal – but it was never going to happen with an attempted cross of that quality.
61'
Hazard sprints down the left and gets past Boateng with ease before putting a cross into the penalty area which is cleared at the first time of asking from Sule. Plea gets his body in front of Gnabry to keep the ball in play – with the striker ultimately winning a free-kick in the process.
59'
Wendt looks to keep the Monchengladbach attack alive as he makes a pass to his left for the waiting Hazard. Their signals get crossed though as the left-back puts his pass behind the forward – giving Bayern a cheap throw-in with which to sap more time from the clock.
57'
Thiago Alcântara gets yellow.
Thiago is shown a yellow card for a bad sliding challenge on Hofmann. It’s a late tackle that could have been much worse for Hofmann who wins the free-kick for Gladbach.
54'
The restoration of the two-goal lead early in the second half has brought with it a return of Bayern’s patience and confidence. Kovac’s defence now look happy to knock the ball around in midfield, taking precious time off the clock before hitting the ball towards the flanks for Gnabry to latch onto.
52'
Wendt hits an absolute thunderbolt of a free-kick with his left boot that – much to Neuer’s relief – flies wide of the post.
51'
J. Boateng gets yellow.
Neuhaus has a crack at goal from outside the area which is blocked – by a hand – by Boateng. The referee shows the Bayern defender a yellow card and gives the hosts a free-kick just outside the 18-yard box.
49'
Both halves have started with an initial chance followed by a goal for Bayern Munich. The Gladbach players simply didn’t look ready to play at the start of either half and did not heed the warnings of the chances which turned into goals. They're deservedly behind for their nonchalant attitude, despite the hosts essentially playing for a Champions League spot.
47'
R. Lewandowski has scored a goal for Bayern Munich! Assist by Thiago Alcântara.
It’s an assist – and an easy one at that for Thiago whose simple service for Lewandowski was the decisive one as Lewandowski managed to turn the pass into a goal.
MORE MISERY IN THE OPENING MOMENTS FOR GLADBACH! Following a goal-kick, Bayern win the ball on the halfway line and Thiago carries it into the opposition half before finding Lewandowski with a precise pass. The striker controls the ball on the half-turn between Elvedi and Ginter and fires a shot into the roof of the goal past Sommer! 3-1!
46'
Gladbach get the second half underway from the kick-off!
The fourth official indicates an additional two minutes at the end of the half for stoppages.
41'
James takes a corner, looking for the head of Martinez who directs his effort towards goal, but right into the chest of Sommer.
39'
With just over five minutes left in the half, Gladbach bring the match to within one after their first shot on target beats Neuer. The Germany international goalkeeper should probably have done better with the shot as it was from an awkward angle for the striker – but it was hit with such venom that perhaps even a parry wouldn’t have stopped its trajectory.
37'
L. Stindl has scored a goal for Borussia M'gladbach! Assist by T. Hazard.
The assist comes courtesy of Hazard – whose lovely and unselfish pass put Stindl in a position to attack the goal.
GOAL FOR GLADBACH! 2-1! The creativity of Hazard is on full display as he rolls the ball through the Bayern defence for Stindl, who holds off his marker before dispatching a left-footed shot into the roof of the net! The acute angle was never troubling for the forward who cuts Bayern’s deficit in half!
35'
Lewandowski looks to get into the penalty area but the strength of Ginter denies the striker entry. It looked to be a questionable challenge as the centre-back was nowhere near the ball – but the referee waves play on!
33'
SOMMER MAKES A CRUCIAL STOP! Gnabry enters the penalty area all alone yet again after another rapid Bayern counter-attack but the Gladbach goalkeeper flies to his left to make the save!
31'
Gnabry tries an awkward sweeping left-foot shot from the left corner of the penalty area which Sommer pushes downwards before catching it on the second effort.
29'
Frankfurt’s earlier victory over Hoffenheim does not bode well for Gladbach either who will remain fourth with a loss, but just three points away from Frankfurt in fifth. In the course of a weekend – Dieter Hecking’s side could go from third place and a Champions League spot, to fifth – and on the outside looking in.
25'
Great attacking play from Bayern breaks down after a high, lofted ball towards Muller in the penalty area is nodded down towards Lewandowski – whose first-time volley is sent high and wide of Sommer’s goal.
23'
Gladbach’s centre-backs are coming high to join the attack and limit the space in midfield, which is not helping them at all defensively. Elvedi and Ginter aren’t the two fastest centre-backs; a fact that has already been exposed by the youthful Gnabry.
21'
IT’S A GOAL FOR GLADBACH BUT IT’S OFFISDE! The corner is met by the head of Elvedi who lifts it over the top for Plea to tap home – beating Neuer from close range, but the striker waited for the service in an offside position and it will not stand much to the dismay of the home support.
19'
Hecking’s side look desperate in their search for a goal as they pile forward, pressuring Munich’s defence down the left-hand side. A sloppy delivery into the penalty area gifts possession to Sule, though that is short-lived as Plea eventually receives the ball in the penalty area and wins a corner.
17'
Thiago looks to switch the play with a powerful switching cross, but he slips on the delivery and it isn’t hit with the requisite power – allowing Gladbach to win possession in their half. It’s been a dominant opening 15 minutes for the visitors, who look very comfortable playing with their two-goal lead.
15'
Muller wins a free-kick in his own half after a foul from Elvedi which allows Bayern to clear the ball and relieve some pressure – as Gladbach were pouring forward looking for a chance to bring the lead back down to a single goal.
13'
LANG SENDS HIS CHANCE WIDE! The centre-back waits on the shoulder of the last man before receiving a pass and firing his shot towards goal from an awkward angle – but he drags his chance wide of the goal. It wouldn’t have counted in any case however as the fourth official’s flag was always raised for offside.
11'
T. Müller has scored a goal for Bayern Munich!
BAYERN DOUBLE THE ADVANTAGE! 2-0! Gnabry sends a cross into the area from the left-hand side which finds Muller perfectly in-stride. The Germany international’s first stab towards goal is saved well by Sommer from close range, but he pushes it back towards the striker who taps the second effort past the goalkeeper and into the net!
9'
J. Hofmann gets yellow.
Hofmann is shown a yellow card for the foul on Kimmich which prevented the right-back from entering the penalty area.
8'
James wins another corner for Bayern, but it’s Kimmich who takes it this time. The delivery goes to the six-yard box but Elvedi is there to make the clearance. The ball is returned to Kimmich who looks to break into the penalty area, but he is fouled just outside the 18 – giving the visitors a great chance to double their lead.
6'
Bayern Munich are in full control as they work the ball around in midfield. A quick loss of possession comes to nothing for Gladbach who return it kindly to Sule without much threat. They will be forced to leave gaps in defence as they chase an equaliser – which could play right into the hands of Kovac’s side.
4'
Things go from bad to worse for Gladbach who are immediately forced to attack Bayern Munich as they find themselves 1-0 within the first two minutes. Hecking is furious on the sideline as the hosts have barely even touched the ball!
2'
Javi Martínez has scored a goal for Bayern Munich! Assist by J. Rodríguez.
It’s James’ assist as his beautiful corner-kick finds an unmarked Martinez near the six-yard box!
IT’S A GOAL IN THE SECOND MINUTE INSTEAD! 1-0 BAYERN MUNICH! The ensuing corner is taken by James and it finds the head of a diving Martinez who lifts his chance high into the roof of the net! The Gladbach fans are stunned into silence!
1'
Bayern Munich get the match underway from the kick-off!
Hello and welcome to our LIVE commentary of the Bundesliga fixture between Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayern Munich!
Borussia Monchengladbach sit in fourth place ahead of their match against Bayern Munich despite a rough run of fixtures which has seen them go without a win since a 2-0 victory over Schalke – one month ago. Scoring goals have been a real concern for Dieter Hecking’s side who are only averaging a goal per match in their last five while conceding 1.4. A win today would send the hosts above Leipzig in third who have are two points ahead – having played a game more.
Monchengladbach’s slump in front of goal has coincided with a poor run of form for Thorgen Hazard, whose nine goals all came prior to the new calendar year. The same can be said for striker and top scorer Alassane Plea, who has only managed one of his 10 goals in 2019 – with that goal coming in mid-January. Lowest scorers in the top four, they will need to hit the target early and often against a Bayern Munich side averaging roughly 2.5 goals per game in the Bundesliga this season.
Bayern Munich have gone on an incredible domestic run, winning 11 of their last 12 matches which sees them now just three points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund having played a match less. Dortmund’s lead atop the Bundesliga was seven points just a month ago – but it seems Niko Kovac’s side have forced themselves into a title race once again.
In contrast to Monchengladbach, Bayern Munich have been getting the job done without too much input from their main striker. Robert Lewandowski has 13 goals this campaign, but just one in his last four matches. He will need to be at his best today he wants his side to go level with Borussia Dortmund, as Monchengladbach won the last meeting between the sides 3-0.
BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH SUBS: Raffael, Tony Jantschke, Denis Zakaria, Patrick Herrmann, Tobias Strobl, Tobias Sippel, Fabian Johnson.
BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH XI (4-3-3): Yann Sommer; Oscar Wendt, Nico Elvedi, Matthias Ginter, Michael Lang; Jonas Hofmann, Christoph Kramer, Florian Neuhaus; Alassane Plea, Lars Stindl, Thorgen Hazard.
With under 15 minutes to go before kick-off, the team news has been confirmed! Let's start with the hosts!
BAYERN MUNICH SUBS: Meritan Shabani, Woo-Yeong Jeong, Lars Lukas Mai, Sven Ulreich, Renato Sanches, Alphonso Davies, Mats Hummels.
BAYERN MUNICH XI (4-2-3-1): Manuel Neuer; Joshua Kimmich, Niklas Sule, Jerome Boateng, Rafinha; Thiago Alcantara, Javi Martinez; Serge Gnabry, James Rodriguez, Thomas Muller; Robert Lewandowski.
Bayern Munich are doing a wonderful job of switching the play, stretching Gladbach’s slow defence and attacking from wide positions. Gnabry and Muller have been thorns in the sides of Wendt and Lang all match, with their creative attacking and excellent deliveries challenging Elvedi and Ginter to defend for their lives. The hosts, alternatively, need to continue exposing the safe deficiencies in the Bayern centre-backs. Plea and Stindl must continue to wait on the shoulder of the last man and poach chances whenever they can – a strategy which has shown that it can work in the first half.
That concludes our commentary of the Bundesliga fixture between Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayern Munich! We hope you enjoyed it.
Next up for Gladbach is a meeting with Mainz next Saturday, while Bayern Munich will look to string together another victory when they play Wolfsburg next week.
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