Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman deliver win over Hertha Berlin that sends Bayern Munich top
Bayern Munich moved back into first place thanks to second-half goals from Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman that broke Hertha Berlin's stubborn resistance at the Allianz Arena on Sunday.
Bayern 2-0 Hertha
Goals: 1-0 Gnabry 70' (assist: Kimmich) 70', 2-0 Coman 80' (assist: Kimmich)
Out to regain top spot from Borussia Dortmund, Bayern made a bright start to proceedings at the Allianz Arena, with Joao Cancelo wasting little time to register his team's first shot at goal. For all the hosts' early dominance, Thomas Tuchel's side struggled to break down a resolute Hertha side fighting for their lives in an enthralling - and increasingly tense - relegation battle. The Old Lady posed their own threat when springing Dodi Lukebakio on the counter-attack as Pal Dardai's team impressively soaked up the Bayern pressure. Tuchel's team turned up the intensity as the first half wore on, but Oliver Christensen ensured Hertha remained level at the break by first denying Coman and then Gnabry.
Tuchel called upon Leroy Sane at half time in a bid to change Bayern's fortunes in front of goal, with the home team knowing that only victory would see them leapfrog Dortmund. But they continued to be left frustrated by their opponents from Berlin, who time and again resisted Bayern's advances. Ryan Gravenberch and Thomas Müller were then called upon to add further weight to the Bayern cause and their pressure finally broke the Hertha damn with 20 minutes to play. Joshua Kimmich's magnificent clipped ball over the top found Gnabry in acres of space, from which he headed beyond Christensen. Kimmich repeated the trick for Coman's second that wrapped up the points and helped Bayern move back to the summit with four games to play.
Match stats
- Leon Goretzka collected his fifth yellow card of the season and will miss next week's trip to Werder Bremen as a result.
- Jamal Musiala has not scored in any of his last eight Bundesliga outings, but he remains Bayern's best sharpshooter in 2022/23 with 11 goals.
- Coman scored his seventh league goal of the campaign, making this the best single season return of his Bundesliga career.
- Since 2014, Bayern have won every game against the Bundesliga's bottom side.
- Bayern have scored in every Bundesliga home game after a 0-0 draw with RB Leipzig in February 2020. They have scored in each of their 55 top-flight outings at the Allianz Arena since.
- Since losing 2-0 in Munich in October 1977, Bayern are unbeaten in their last 28 home Bundesliga matches against Hertha (W22, D6).
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Teams
Bayern: Sommer - Mazraoui (Stanisic 74'), Pavard, de Ligt, Cancelo - Kimmich (c), Goretzka (Sane 46') - Gnabry, Musiala (Gravenberch 61'), Coman (Tel 81') - Mane (Müller 61')
Unused subs: Ulreich, Sarr, Blind
Out: Choupo-Moting (knee), Davies (thigh), Hernandez (knee), Neuer (broken leg), Upamecano (muscle tear)
Coach: Thomas Tuchel
Hertha: Christensen - Kenny, Rogel, Uremovic, Plattenhardt (c) - Lukebakio (Scherhant 83'), Tousart, Boetius (Stange 83'), Mittelstädt (Maza 65') - Ngankam (Ejuke 55'), Niederlechner (Kanga 55')
Unused subs: Kwasigroch, Pekarik, Klemens, Cigerci
Out: Boateng (groin), M. Dardai (muscular) Jarstein (not considered), Jovetic (muscular), Kempf (suspended), Nsona (knee), Richter (muscular), Serdar (suspended), Sunjic (not considered)
Coach: Pal Dardai
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