Bayern Munich return to winning ways as starlets help down Wolfsburg
Bayern Munich put their UEFA Champions League heartbreak behind them with an impressive youth-inspired win over Wolfsburg moving them back to second in the Bundesliga and helping Thomas Tuchel say farewell to the Alianz Arena in style.
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Bayern Munich 2-0 Wolfsburg
Goals: 1-0 Zvonarek 4' (assist: Davies), 2-0 Goretzka 13' (assist: Müller)
Bayern could have been forgiven for feeling sorry for themselves after their dramatic Champions League semi-final exit against Real Madrid midweek, but they made sure not to disappoint in their final outing at the Allianz Arena of 2023/24. Thomas Müller forced the issue, leaving Alphonso Davies' cross for Lovro Zvonarek, the 19-year-old then brilliantly fired in on his full Bundesliga debut. It was another surprise outlet who helped make it two, with Bryan Zaragoza - also handed his first start - crafting an excellent crossing opportunity on the left wing for Müller to shift it to Leon Goretzka who fired in brilliantly. Zaragoza then thought he had his first goal shortly after in the 18th minute, but an offside call against Müller stopped the game getting out of hand for Wolfsburg.
Ralph Hasenhüttl attempted to shake things up at half-time with a change of personel and system, but it became increasingly clear the former Southampton and RB Leipzig head coach wasn't going to add to his three-game winning run in Wolfsburg. Instead it was Joshua Kimmich who came closest to adding to the scoreline, but even his best efforts from a free-kick weren't enough. Tuchel then used the closing minutes to debut Jonathan Asp Jensen, Matteo Pérez Vinlöf and Daniel Peretz as the match finished 2-0, helping Bayern leapfrog VfB Stuttgart back into second, while Wolfsburg's chances of European football next season were put to bed.
Match stats
- Zvonarek opened his scoring account on his fourth Bayern appearance.
- Manuel Neuer has now made 500 Bundesliga appearances. Only Oliver Kahn, Eike Immel and Ulrich Stein have more among goalkeepers, while he's 12th of all players.
- Tuchel oversaw his 60th competitive game as Bayern coach. He has won 37.
- Despite surrendering their Bundesliga title-winning streak to Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern's 92 goals is their ninth best season total and they still have a game to play.
- Wolfsburg have still never won in Munich, across 27 visits. Their best results were a 3-3 draw in December 2001 and 2-2 tie in September 2017.
- The Wolves have picked up 12 points from seven games under Hasenhüttl.
Watch: Alphonso Davies expects 'hungry' Bayern next season
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Teams
Bayern: Neuer (c) (Peretz 74') - Kimmich, Upamecano, Kim (De Ligt 74'), Davies - Goretzka (Laimer 74'), Pavlović - Tel, Zvonarek (Asp-Jensen 90'), Zaragoza (Perez Vinlöf 74') - Müller
Unused subs: Ulreich, Dier
Out: Boey (fitness), Buchmann (thigh), Coman (groin), Gnabry (thigh), Guerreiro (ankle), Kane (back), Musiala (knock), Sané (knock), Sarr (fitness)
Coach: Thomas Tuchel
Wolfsburg: Casteels - Lacroix, Bornauw, Jenz (Zesiger 46') - Baku (Černý 79'), Wimmer (Kaminski 46'), Arnold (c), Paredes (Tomás 79'), Mæhle - Majer - Wind (Pejčinović 85')
Unused subs: Pervan, Fischer, Amoako, Behrens
Out: Nmecha (muscular), Svanberg (shoulder), Vranckx (knee)
Coach: Ralph Hasenhüttl
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