Robert Lewandowski penalty enough for Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich against Augsburg
Bayern Munich moved a step closer to a record-extending 10th successive Bundesliga title after Robert Lewandowski's second-half penalty settled a tight encounter against Augsburg.
Bayern Munich 1-0 Augsburg
Goals: 1-0 Lewandowski (pen. 82')
The Allianz Arena welcomed a 75,000-strong capacity crowd for the first time since 6 November 2021, but Bayern's first-half performance didn't quite match the gala atmosphere. Augsburg restricted the record champions to half chances at best in a resilient display, flecked with moments of real endeavour. Other than racing out to save at the feet of Lewandowski, Augsburg No.1 Rafal Gikiewicz had very little to do. Manuel Neuer wasn't tested either, but might have been had Benjamin Pavard not put in a perfectly timed challenge on Ruben Vargas. Bayern were also grateful for Dayot Upamecano for denying Andre Hahn a clear sight of goal, following a defensive mix-up between the former RB Leipzig centre-back and countryman Tanguy Nianzou.
Jamal Musiala replaced Serge Gnabry at the start of the second half, which Bayern almost began with a bang. Lewandowski powered a header towards the bottom corner, only for Gikiewicz to pull off a sensational flying save. Neuer was made to work by substitute Andi Zeqiri, before Gikiewicz got a strong left hand to a Joshua Kimmich stinger at the other end. Alphonso Davies entered the fray as Bayern turned the screw, the Canadian very nearly finding Lewandowski with his first touch. Musiala and Kingsley Coman shot wide, before Reece Oxford conceded a penalty for a handball. Lewandowski sank the ensuing spot-kick to restore Bayern's nine-point lead at the summit, with five games remaining.
Match stats
- No team has ever surrendered a nine-point lead at the top at this stage in a season.
- Bayern have the best home record in this season's Bundesliga (W12, D1, L2).
- Davies made his first Bundesliga appearance of 2022.
- Lewandowski has scored 23 goals in 19 meetings with Augsburg, and has only failed to score in two of his 13 games against them as a Bayern player.
- Thomas Müller picked up his 300th Bundesliga win, joining Neuer (313) and Oliver Kahn (310) in an elite group of players to have reached the landmark. He's the only one of the three players to have recorded all of his Bundesliga victories in a Bayern jersey.
- Kimmich recorded his 150th Bundesliga win it what was just his 196th outing in the German top flight. Only Arjen Robben had previously reached that landmark in so few games.
Watch: Musiala on "important win"
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Line-ups
Bayern: Neuer (c) - Pavard, Nianzou, Upamecano, Richards (Davies 57') - Kimmich, Goretzka (Goretzka 57') - Gnabry (Musiala 46'), Müller, Sane (Coman 65') – Lewandowski
Unused subs: Ulreich, Wanner, Roca, Tillman, Stanistic
Out: Choupo-Moting (knee), Sarr (knee), Süle (not included), Tolisso (hamstring)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
Augsburg: Gikiewicz - Gumny (Framberger 64'), Gouweleeuw (c), Oxford, Iago - Caligiuri, Maier (Moravek 64'), Dorsch, Vargas (Zeqiri 56') - Hahn (Gregoritsch 78'), Niederlechner (Pepi 56')
Unused subs: Koubek, Jensen, Finnbogason, Günther
Out: Gruezo (suspended), Pedersen (not included), Sarenren Bazee (knee), Strobl (knee), Uduokhai (thigh), Winther (ill)
Coach: Markus Weinzierl
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