Bayern Munich recaptures lead position over still furious Borussia Dortmund
NOS Football–
Bayern Munich, with four rounds of play to go, has regained the lead in the Bundesliga. Against bottom-placed Hertha BSC, the difference was only made after halftime: 2-0. Borussia Dortmund is still struggling with a wrong decision by referee Sascha Stegemann.
The gap with Dortmund, which played a disappointing 1-1 draw in and against Bochum on Friday, is now one point in favor of Thomas Tuchel’s team, which has already been eliminated in the Champions League and the DFB-Pokal since his entrance with Bayern.
Things are not going crescendo in the league either. Two weeks ago Hoffenheim took a point in the Bavarian capital (1-1) and last week Bayern suffered a painful loss at Mainz 05 (3-1).
Also against Hertha BSC, with Jean-Paul Boëtius in the starting lineup, the engine faltered glaringly. Before halftime, only Benjamin Pavard, Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry came close to a goal. Both times, goalkeeper Oliver Christensen stood in the way.
After a whistling concert at half-time, Tuchel brought in a fresh force with Leroy Sané. Ex-Ajacans Noussair Mazraoui (for the injured Alphonso Davies) and Matthijs de Ligt did start in the starting lineup.
Although Bayern also had frequent possession of the ball in the second half, Hertha BSC initially held up easily. After an hour, Thomas Müller and Ryan Gravenberch replaced the disappointing Sadio Mané and Jamal Musiala.
The liberating 1-0 finally fell after all, after 69 minutes of play. On a cross from Joshua Kimmich, Gnabry headed the ball behind Christensen, leading to an explosion of joy in the stadium filled with 75,000 spectators.
In the closing stages, Coman doubled the margin, allowing the supporters to sit back and relax. The eleventh national title in a row is again in sight.
Threats made to referee
Indeed, Dortmund must once again go in pursuit due to Bayern’s difficult win. Edin Terzic’s formation fiercely disappointed in Bochum on Friday night.
After the end of that game, Dortmund directed their frustration at referee Sascha Stegemann, who had failed to put the ball on the penalty spot after a foul by Danilo Soares on Karim Adeyemi at 1-1.
The German Football Association DFB confirmed a day later that Stegemann should have awarded a penalty in that 65th minute in question, whether or not on the advice of video referee Robert Hartmann.
Stegemann went through the dust, but he and his family have since been severely threatened. Dortmund director Hans-Joachim Watzke distanced himself from this on behalf of the club and also condemned all hate comments against the referee.
Next Saturday Bayern will visit Werder Bremen, while Dortmund will take on VfL Wolfsburg a day later at home.
