Munich, March 20 (BUS): Bayern Munich advanced by seven points at the top of the German Bundesliga with a 4-0 victory over Union Berlin on Saturday, and Hertha Berlin won their first match in 2022.
Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski scored two goals to take his league tally to 31 goals in 27 games. It is the fifth season in which the Polish international has scored 30 or more goals in the Bundesliga, a feat previously only achieved by former Bayern Munich player Gerd Muller, the Associated Press reported.
Kingsley Coman and Tanguy Nyanzu scored the other goals as Bayern prevented second-placed Borussia Dortmund from reducing their lead further this round. Dortmund visits Cologne on Sunday.
The league leaders were fortunate that Al Ittihad could not create more chances of its own, while the visitors’ errors in defense were gifts to Bayern Munich’s more capable attack.
Bayern went into the match without defenders Niklas Sule and Benjamin Pavard due to injury and Corona virus, respectively, but Leon Goretzka, Corentin Tolisso and Eric Maxime Choupo-Moting returned and were among the substitutes.
Bayern pressured from the start, and Koeman opened the scoring in the 16th minute, before Nianzu scored his first goal in the German League in the 25th minute.
Andreas Loth of Al Ittihad was penalized for fouling Lewandowski after Paul Jekyll played the ball away from his goalkeeper. Lewandowski dusted himself off to score his 30th goal of the season before the break. Jamal Musiala put him in the thirty-first place, right after him.
Al Ittihad kept moving forward and probably would have been awarded a penalty in the 49th minute when Nyanzu appeared to have missed Robin Knuci. He made contact with Knosh’s foot and not the ball, but a VAR check found nothing wrong.
Magath effect without magath
Hertha benefited from the influence of Felix Magath in his first match as a coach despite his absence due to infection with the Corona virus.
Marvin Platnhardt created three goals for Hertha to get out of the direct relegation zone with a 3-0 victory over Hoffenheim, ending nine consecutive matches without wins and returning to a 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund on December 18.
Hertha, who were relegated to second place in the 18-team First Division last weekend, dismissed Typhoon Korkut from training on Sunday and appointed veteran Magath to replace him.
Magath, who previously coached Bayern Munich, Wolfsburg, Stuttgart and many others, was joined by assistant coach Mark Fürringham, whom he had known since their time together at English club Fulham.
But Magath tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, leaving Fotheringham to take over.
“I thought a comet would go down and crash into the club’s headquarters today,” Hertha sporting director Freddy Bobic joked about the latest ordeal in an unplanned season.
Hoffenheim has never lost in five Bundesliga matches. And they tied with Bayern Munich 1-1 last weekend.
Hertha played with passion and strength, and Niklas Stark finally broke the score in the 39th minute with a free kick header taken by Platnhardt. The assistant referee raised his flag for offside but the VAR examination confirmed that Stark was working.
Herta maintained his intensity after the break. The players’ commitment even won plaudits from the home team’s fans, something they’ve rarely heard this season.
And Isaac Belvodel scored the second goal in the 63rd minute when Mark Oliver Kempf hit another free kick from Platnhardt in the Algerian’s path. Belvodel’s celebrations were muted against his former club, but Hertha’s fans were singing.
There was also good news coming from Mainz, where relegation rival Armenia Bielefeld lost.
Another free kick from Platthardt led to Hertha’s third goal in the 74th minute with an own goal from David Raum under pressure from Diederik Boyata.
Mainz eventually beat Bielefeld 4-0, leaving Bielefeld second in last and Hertha in first place in the playoff.
Stuttgart came out of the relegation zone by moving from behind to defeat Augsburg 3-2.
Stuttgart players appeared with the flags of Ukraine and the words “No to war” on their heads before the match.
Also, the last place Greuther Fürth took Freiburg 0-0, which affected the visiting team’s Champions League ambitions.
Friday’s match between Bochum and Borussia Monchengladbach was called off after an assistant was hit in the back of the head with a plastic beer cup. Gladbach was leading 2-0 at the time.