Hertha BSC 2-3 Bayern Munich: Player ratings as Choupo-Moting double seals victory
By Tom Gott
Bayern Munich were given a scare by relegation-threatened Herth BSC on Saturday afternoon, holding on to secure a 3-2 victory.
It didn't seem like things would be as nervy for Bayern when they took the lead 12 minutes in; Jamal Musiala firing low into the net after an excellent driving run from Sadio Mane.
Mane saw a shot well kept out soon after, before Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting woke up and doubled Bayern's advantage with a real poacher's finish following a deflected Leon Goretzka strike.
That goal came in the 37th minute, and Choupo-Moting was celebrating just seconds later as he poked home a third goal for his team. It felt like game over, but Hertha weren't having any of it.
Dodi Ludebakio gave the hosts a lifeline shortly before half-time with a sensational volley, and the comeback stepped up in first-half stoppage time as Hertha were awarded a penalty; Benjamin Pavard caught committing a foul by VAR. Up stepped Davie Selke to make it 3-2 at the break.
Bayern continued to push for more goals after the break and thought they had found one before the offside flag ruled spotted that Alphonso Davies had made his run a bit too soon.
The Canadian would end up being forced off with an injury moments later, appearing to pull his hamstring just over two weeks before the World Cup gets underway.
It was a sour moment in what was otherwise a comfortable win for Bayern, whose dominance was not reflected by the close nature of the scoreline.
Hertha BSC player ratings
GK: Oliver Christensen (5); RB: Jonjoe Kenny (6); CB: Agustin Rogel (5); LB: Marvin Plattenhardt (6); RM: Marco Richter (7); CM: Lucas Tousart (6); CM: Suat Serdar (6); LM: Jean-Paul Boetius (6); ST: Davie Selke (8), ST: Dodi Ludebakio (7)
SUB: Wilfried Kanga (6); Chidera Ejuke (6); Maximilian Mittelstadt (6); Myziane Maolida (6); Kevin-Prince Boateng (6)
Bayern Munich player ratings
GK: Manuel Neuer (7); RB: Noussair Mazraoui (7); CB: Benjamin Pavard (7); CB: Dayot Upamecano (7); LB: Alphonso Davies (7); DM: Joshua Kimmich (7); DM: Leon Goretzka (7); RM: Serge Gnabry (6); AM: Jamal Musiala (7); LM: Sadio Mane (7); ST: Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (9)
SUB: Kingsley Coman (6); Lucas Hernandez (6); Leroy Sane (6), Marcel Sabizter (6)