Match Report: Bayern Munich (H)

Pre-match: Storm clouds gathering

What a difference two weeks makes.

Last home game against Leverkusen was played out under blue skies and sun, a battling loss with Union Berlin’s season meandering to a close.

By no means pretty, but no real risk.

Fast forward to today and the storm clouds have gathered in all senses. A predictable defeat at Augsburg, coupled with a sudden surge from the likes of Mainz and Köln have put Union right back into it at the bottom.

Meanwhile, Berlin’s unseasonable early summer has given way to an unseasonable late winter with the mercury dipping to zero and me frantically looking for my winter coat I so foolishly squirreled away in March.

Even the lake around the forest-side gates has made a late reappearance, an empty bottle of Berliner Luft perched artfully on the edge of it.

Under this unsettled backdrop, we welcomed former champions Bayern Munich to the Alte Försterei.

Who knew what to expect from this one. Bayern came to Köpenick fresh from dumping Arsenal out of the Champions League and also fresh from being trousered by Heidenheim. Union have played ok but cannot score for toffee.

The Union Berlin International gang dropped into Sektor 3 with something like hope, an underdog against at least a tired giant.

The crowd certainly felt like there was something in the offing, the Alte Försterei full very early and in downright throaty voice as the teams warmed up. The sun peeked through and it turned into a lovely afternoon for a late kick off.

Bjelica persisted with a formation that lacked any formal strikers, perhaps hoping for Hollerbach or the returning Volland to slice though Eric Dier and his merry men.

First half: KITANO nearly pays off

We kicked off with a glorious early chance for Union, Trimmel whipping in an inswinger from the right that may have had a glance off Hollerbach, beat the flapping Neuer and bounced agonisingly wide.

Bayern got down the other end, Kimmich going down very cheaply for a free kick which earned him boos all afternoon.

The visitors looked tidy and individually accomplished – the young Tel was out on our touchline in the first half and he really looks some player, a few gorgeous first touches and silky close control on display, but with pace and power to go with it.

But Bayern were not particularly threatening in the main. They had a lot of the ball out wide but Union defended fairly comfortably when it came near the box. Keep It Tight And Nick One the order of the day for FC Union.

Our tactic was to draw Bayern in and then get forward quickly, leading to some nervy play out from the back from goal kicks. It wasn’t a bad idea though, as Bayern have famously struggled to break down deep-sitting teams this season.

Schäfer, Aaronson and Tousart all looked good in the middle, Schäfer sliding in with a beauty of a tackle to get the crowd going.

We were getting through them with some regularity, Volland switching flanks while Aaronson and Hollerbach scampered through.

Gosens was playing in an extremely advanced role and we looked to build down the right before releasing him in space on the left.

It worked a few times in the first half, but the familiar lack of a central presence really hurt us once again, a few tasty crosses finding nobody.

Going forward, we still look like a team expecting Behrens and Becker to be there – typified by Trimmel trying a ball down the line to Volland which Sheraldo would have had a chance with, but Volland got nowhere near.

Hollerbach had a few tricky bursts, but we very often get into situations where nice crosses have no target.

But still Union created chances, Gosens looping a header over from one of his trademark leaps. My unpopular opinion is that I think he could play up front. Quick, strong, jumps like a kangaroo, knows where the goal is.

It was quite balanced at the half hour mark, but then from nothing Bayern got the breakthrough, working it down the right before Goretzka found space in the box and positively twatted it off the underside of the bar. It had been the visitors first real chance to be honest.

For a few moments I wasn’t sure that Bayern had scored because their fans seemed to be following a library policy regarding noise, bouncing around in respectful silence while the Unioner sang our hearts out.

We nearly got right back into it, working well through the middle before Tousart unleashed an absolute thunderbastard from outside the box on the left. It looked in all the way but Neuer got down to his right and kept it out. Then, a quick scramble ended up with Schäfer skittering one just wide.

The pick of the bunch was a beauty of a volley from Gosens, watching a crossfield pass all the way and catching it sweetly from the edge of the box. It arrowed towards the far corner but Neuer was there again to turn it away, Gosens clutching his head in disbelief.

Right before half time though, Bayern scored again – a questionable free kick given about 20 yards, Leite apoplectic with the referee, insistent he got the ball. Looked like he did from my angle.

Müller and Kane stood over it, Müller doing the obligatory dummy before Kane managed to sneak around the wall and inside the post. A few grumbles about the goal but it was a fine strike.

There was faint disbelief around the Alte Försterei that we found ourselves two goals down at half time – they must have been Bayern’s only shots on target.

Second half: Müller’s sucker punch

The second half began with the Gästeblock releasing their own silent pyro display, Bayern attacking into the red mist before the game was stopped while the smoke cleared.

Any hope of a comeback was quickly extinguished as Stoke legend Eric Choupo-Moting found the timeless Müller who planted his header in, the Bavarians doing a professional job.

By this point Neuer was actually in our half for corners – completely unnecessary and we were pleading with Freddie to try and lob him from his own box after he claimed the cross – but you have to admire that level of confidence in a keeper.

After 60 minutes Bjelica made a quadruple change. Juranovic, Vertessen, Laïdouni and Kaufmann coming on. Leite went off to add the extra attacker, and I was surprised to see Schäfer hooked too, he had been effective and combative in the first half.

The effect was immediate but not in a good way.

Tousart got involved in a mixup at the back, we lost it and Bayern capitalised, slipping Tel in to roll it into the corner. Five minutes later it was somehow 5:0, another Müller header. It was a case of every time Bayern came forward, they scored.

Worryingly, after the fifth, Rönnow was giving what looked like absolute pelters to Doekhi, who kept his head down and trudged away.

The noise in the stadium never dropped and the players kept grafting. A full rendition of Meine Fußballreligion went round the ground as the Unioner were happy to just sing out the afternoon.

Vertessen was an improvement in danger areas and Kaufmann causes a bit of nuisance. There were a few near misses, Vertessen lashing one over the bar as he seems to every game. We were feverishly willing the team forward towards the end and the players kept pushing for a consolation.

It finally came in the last minute, Vertessen weaving into the area and beating Neuer with a low shot. We celebrated like it was a winner, bouncing around in the stands, beer flying.

A nice ending to a difficult afternoon. Bayern outplayed us. No shame in that. We didn’t deserve the scoreline though, and the fans stayed to applaud the efforts.

The Waldseite held up a banner imploring the players to do everything they can to stay in the league, and although results around us were good, it’s all looking a bit tight.

But this team has a bit of battle and fight in it, they’ll manage.

We all went home with lost voices and big smiles. There’s still no better way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Eisern!

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by @Union_Berliner