Bayern Munich left it late to maintain their unbeaten run and rescue a 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund at the Signal Iduna Park.
For probably the first time in the Bundesliga this season, Dortmund took the game to Bayern. In the Rekordmeister’s previous games the teams would sit back and concede possession to them, but the hosts did not allow that today. They had their fair share of the ball but struggled to turn it into any meaningful chance.
However, they go their chance in the 27th minute when a ball from Nico Schlotterbeck went to Jamie Gittens and allowed him to use his pace to beat Konrad Laimer, the Englishman then continued his great form from this season and rifled the ball past Manuel Neuer to give Dortmund the lead. To make matters worse for Bayern, Harry Kane would go off injured six minutes later.
Bayern were far more dominant in the second half and had several chances to score but they lack the clinical edge, while Gregor Kobel also made several good saves to keep Bayern out. Dortmund had their own chances to double their lead but were unable to. Then, in the 85th minute, Michael Olise plays in a cross which is met by Jamal Musiala to equalise for Bayern, while the 21 year old also scored another header. Ultimately a draw was a fair score for either side.
What the draw highlighted for Bayern was just how important Musiala is. Throughout the second half, his mazy dribbling caused a lot of problems for the Dortmund defence and they struggled to contain him. It also shows that whatever Bayern achieves this season, Musiala will be at the centre of it. The lack of missed chances also showed how dependent Bayern are on Kane. The several chances that Bayern had in the second half would of likely been converted as the Englishman does have the composure to score from five yards out, while others do not.
For Dortmund, it was a hard working performance as they did look dangerous for large parts of the game however their own limitations let them down and as time went on they got tired. Their failure to mark Musiala when Niklas Süle was lying on the floor cost them but they have shown if you take the game to Bayern, you will reveal that they are human after all.
Borussia Dortmund:
Gregor Kobel (7), Julian Ryerson (5), Waldemar Anton (-), Nico Schlotterbeck (7), Ramy Bensebaini (5), Felix Nmecha (6), Pascal Groß (5), Maximilian Beier (5), Marcel Sabitzer (5), Jamie Gittens (7), Serhou Guirassy (5)
Others: Niklas Süle (5), Yan Couto (5), Donyell Malen (5), Giovanni Reyna (-)
Bayern Munich:
Manuel Neuer (5), Konrad Laimer (5), Min-Jae Kim (5), Dayot Upamecano (5), Alphonso Davies (5), Joshua Kimmich (5), Leon Goretzka (5), Leroy Sané (5), Jamal Musiala (8), Mathys Tel (5), Harry Kane (-)
Others: Thomas Müller (5), Sacha Boey (5), Kingsley Coman (5), Michael Olise (-)
GGFN Man of the Match: Jamal Musiala (8)
Who else?, well if Dortmund won it would have likely went to Jamie Gittens or Nico Schlotterbeck, but Musiala is Bayern’s most important player. Without him they will likely not be anywhere close to the position they are in right now and today showed that. His trickery and creativity was at the heart of Bayern’s second half turn around and it was only right that he was the scorer of the equaliser.
GGFN | Jack MeenanÂ
