Freiburg 1-3 Bayern Munich: Report, Ratings & Reaction as Bayern Snatch Win at the Death
Two injury-time strikes seized all three points for Bayern as they narrowly saw off a spirited Freiburg in the Bundesliga on Wednesday night.
The game looked to be heading for a draw before substitute Joshua Zirkzee poked home with his first-ever Bundesliga touch and then Serge Gnabry sealed the win deep into stoppage time.
The Bavarians started where they left off against Bremen, and it wasn’t long before the breakthrough.
On 15 minutes Alphonso Davies raced down the left to provide an inch-perfect cross for Lewandowski to steer home his 30th goal of the season.
However, despite the away side's dominance, it was only 1-0 at the interval and the hosts were a different outfit in the second half, levelling on the hour mark.
A loose pass by Davies let in Janik Haberer and his cross caught out opposing full-back, Joshua Kimmich, who was unable to stop Vincenzo Grifo rifling the ball home.
Freiburg
Player Ratings
Starting XI: Flekken (7); Gunter (5), Gulde(6), 6), Heintz (6) Haberer (7); Frantz (7), Hofler (6), Koch (6), Grifo (7); Holer (6), Petersen (6).
Subs: Kwon (6), Borrello (7), Schlotterbeck (6).
Bayern Munich
Key Talking Point
Goals are almost guaranteed when Bayern play this season whether that be the Bavarians scoring or shipping them.
All over the pitch, Bayern have undoubted quality and, in truth, at times the game took the shape of attack versus defence such was the extent of the Bavarians’ dominance.
At times tonight, their offensive play was frightening. Mainly derived from the wings, through the overload of fullbacks but also in the middle via playmakers Philippe Coutinho and Thiago.
But there were also lapses in concentration, particularly from the forward-thinking full-backs and that’s exactly how they let Freiburg back into the game.
Davies lost the ball and was unable to recover and Kimmich on the other flank, failed to track his man, misjudging the ball to allow his man a free run on goal.
Bayern were rescued by two late, late goals here but it was far from the comfortable night that the scoreline suggests. On this performance, it’s easy to see why the visitors have leaked so many goals this season and for all their easy-on the eye attacking, their openness at the other end is a worrying sign.
Player Ratings
Starting XI: Neuer; (7) Kimmich (6), Pavard (6), Alaba (6), Davies (7); Müller (6), Thiago (6), Coutinho (6); Perisic (6), Gnabry (7), Lewandowski (7).
Subs: Martinez (6), Zirkzee (7).
Star Man: Alphonso Davies
The 19-year-old's stock continues to rise. His attacking prowess reminds spectators of a young David Alaba as he marauds down the left, sprinting past all comers.
At points in the match, the teenager was a bonafide winger such was his position on the pitch, none more so than with the goal.
Davies produced a lung-bursting run led to Bayern’s opener when he served it on a plate for Lewandowski to steer home.
From virtually his own penalty area, the Canadian played a swift one-two with Ivan Perišič before putting on the afterburners to evade a challenge and produce a great assist.
Star performer on the night but not without his defensive frailties, he was exposed more frequently than he would have liked and he gave the ball away which led to the equaliser. Although that said, he stopped a certain goal with a late recovery challenge after Kimmich had been caught out.
Looking Ahead
Freiburg face a tough trip to fourth-placed Schalke on Saturday in their last game before the Bundesliga's annual winter break.
As for Bayern, they finish the year by welcoming Wolfsburg to the Allianz Arena in the league on Saturday.