Munich on October 1 (US): A crisis? Which crisis?
Jamal Musiala shined as Bayern Munich ended a four-game losing streak by beating Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 as the Bundesliga returned from the international break on Friday.
The 19-year-old participated in all three first-half goals. And this time – unlike the 1-0 defeat in Augsburg or the previous three draws – luck was smiling at Bayern. Each outcome on its way was backed by a slight deviation – or a gift from the opponent.
The 10-times champions wasted little time responding to their first loss of the season in Augsburg as Musiala slid past the right wing and Leroy Sané’s cross to open the scoring in the third minute.
Thomas Muller prepared Musiala to score in the 17th minute, and Musiala was involved again when he set up Sadio Mane to end his six-game drought in the 39th minute. It was Mane’s first goal in Munich for his new team.
Mane thought he scored again at the start of the second half, but the goal was disallowed after the VAR checked for an apparent foul by Matthijs de Ligt on Odilon Cosono in reinforcements.
Bayern’s players continued to play while the Leverkusen defender was lying on the ground after a head-on clash with De Ligt and Musila provided the last pass again. Referee Tobias Stiller checked the replay while Cosono received treatment and thus penalized de Ligt for a foul.
Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer denied Amin Adly the only real chance for the visitors, while his counterpart Lukasz Hradecky ended an evening to forget by gifting Muller Bayern’s fourth goal in the 84th minute. Hrádecký wanted to take the ball out but slipped and inadvertently helped Muller, whose celebrations were dampened by embarrassment.
Bayern are two points ahead of league leaders Union Berlin, who visit Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.