LAST UPDATE | 9 Apr 2022
A LATE ROBERT Lewandowski penalty spared Bayern Munich after a below-par performance in their 1-0 home win over Augsburg, three days before a crucial Champions League tie against Villarreal.
Bayern struggled at the Allianz Arena until a handball by Augsburg defender Reece Oxford resulted in the penalty which Lewandowski tucked away eight minutes from time.
Bayern host Villarreal on Tuesday in the Champions League quarter-final, second leg having lost the first match 1-0 away last Wednesday.
Leon Goretzka has vowed Bayern Munich will improve on Saturday’s shaky 1-0 home win over Augsburg, three days before their crucial Champions League tie against Villarreal.
Nothing like a full house at home 🏟️
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) April 9, 2022
Incredible support, as always 🙌#MiaSanMia #FCBFCA pic.twitter.com/fILinu6c2Q
“The first half was not good from us,” admitted Bayern midfielder Goretzka. “The intensity was missing.
“We will have to improve on Tuesday — and that’s what we will do. The place will be on fire. Then we will deliver a performance that is Bayern-like.”
Saturday’s win edged Bayern closer to a 10th straight league title, extending their lead to nine points over second-placed Borussia Dortmund who beat Stuttgart 2-0 on Friday.
Lewandowski has netted 32 league goals this season, leaving him poised to be the Bundesliga top-scorer for the fifth consecutive campaign.
Thomas Mueller, meanwhile, reached the landmark of 300 Bundesliga wins, a record for a player at a single club.
Yet the milestone statistics failed to disguise Bayern’s poor display.
In the wake of Wednesday’s first-leg defeat at Villarreal, Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann said he had no more “tolerance for wobbles and slip-ups”.
Yet until Lewandowski’s spot-kick, this was another disjointed, stuttering performance.
Bayern barely created a shot in the first half under pressure from Augsburg who stunned their Bavarian rivals when the clubs met last November.
The first outfield player with 3️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ Bundesliga wins 🏅
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) April 9, 2022
Congrats on another record, @esmuellert_! ⭐#MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/Dye0MXPaRr
Teenager Jamal Musiala came on at half-time, before wingers Alphonso Davies and Kingsley Coman also came off the bench.
The injection of pace paid off as Bayern looked far more dangerous.
Joshua Kimmich forced a superb diving save from Augsburg goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz with an hour gone.
After the ball clipped Oxford’s hand from a cross, Lewandowski secured the three points.
“We’re in a phase of the season where we don’t have to shine, just win,” added Nagelsmann.
- Union dominate Berlin derby -
Union ran riot in the Berlin derby by hammering hosts Hertha 4-1 in front of a sell-out crowd of 74,667 at the Olympic Stadium.
Japan midfielder Genki Haraguchi gave the visitors a first-half lead with a superb header only for Hertha to equalise when Union defender Timo Baumgartl turned the ball into his own net.
Union turned the screw on relegation-threatened Hertha, who are second from bottom, with three unanswered goals.
Grischa Proemel headed Union back into the lead, then Sheraldo Becker claimed a brilliant individual goal before replacement striker Sven Michel hit the fourth five minutes from time.
This is the third time Union have beaten Hertha this season – twice in the league and also away in the German Cup last January.
Elsewhere, Cologne came back from behind to grab a 3-2 home win over Mainz with Luca Kilian hitting the late winner to claim his first Bundesliga goal.
Wolfsburg ended a run of three defeats with a 4-0 home win over Arminia Bielefeld, whose defender Cedric Brunner had to be stretchered off following a head injury.
Borussia Moenchengladbach pulled away from the relegation battle and into mid-table with a 2-0 win at bottom side Greuther Fuerth.
The UFC might aswell not have rankings and contenders anymore.
@Ciarán: Woodley faught Maia, Wonderboy*2 and Lawler in his last 4 fights: each the highest rank possible at the time… If anyone should be allowed a money fight its him. Besides, in diaz’s last 2 fights, he beat a champion and then lost to the same guy on a narrow decision. So compared to other welterweights he isnt an absurd choice… Its nothing like Bisping: making his 1st defence against someone not even in the top 10 and his 2nd defence against someone who hadnt faught in 4 years.
Coincidence that McGregor and Diaz will both have titles before their rematch? Not that I’m complaining, would be hard not to get excited about the build up to that.
@Johnny: what title will Diaz have? No chance will he beat Woodley
@Connery83: 100% agree, Diaz is the perfect style for Woodley to fight. Plus hed have no excuse to be cautious in this one.
@Connery83: Woodley barely beat Maia even the the entire fight was fought on the feat. Diaz is more than a match for him on the feet and if it goes to the ground Diaz is more than comfortable fighting on top or from his back. Diaz will beat him.
@Johnny: Maia is possibly the best at bjj in the entire ufc. Woodley was being cautious to avoid his submissions, but was comfortably better on the feet. Fans were angry that he didnt try to finish him. He also beat Wonderboy who is one of the best strikers
@Johnny: Woodley will punch a hole through his face. I actually fear for Nate in this fight, as he is so durable. Mate defends with his face and against the hardest hitter at 170 that’s a recipe for disaster
That’s preposterous! What has he done to deserve a shot
@Patrick Dara Kelly: Been the only person since 2010 to beat McGregor, a 2 weight champion, in mma.
@Rudiger McMonihan: fair achievement but why has that put him in line for a title shot, he’s 3-3 at 170.
He smokes a hell a lot of weed, with Conor the King of Coke and the majority of the roster on some kind drugs he’s perfect.
@Malachy Rivers: The main difference between them and athletes in other sports is the testing. Has a football player ever been caught using PEDs?
Great fight Woodley has me blocked on twitter so I hope he gets a beating:)