One of the first matches to resume the Bundesliga season was between Union Berlin and Bayern Munich, with the latter winning. Bayern now remains on top of the Bundesliga table, with a four-point advantage.
Another game of the day ended with a draw between Cologne and Mainz (2-2). Bundesliga debutant Taiwo Awoniyi and Pierre Kunde scored second-half goals as Mainz came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with fellow Karneval club Cologne.
Bayern won with two goals over Union’s zero. Robert Lewandowski scored his 26th goal of the Bundesliga season, and 40th in all competitions, to give Bayern its first goal, with Benjamin Pavard adding the second one later.
League leaders Bayern took early possession in Berlin as was expected, but in fact it was the home side that produced the game’s first chance.
After doing some good work down Marcus Ingvartsen’s right flank, Marius Bülter forced a save from Manuel Neuer. 18 minutes later, when Thomas Müller almost scored from close proximity, Bayern thought they had gone ahead but he was in an offside position from Serge Gnabry’s initial header to goal.
With their high defensive line earning six offside calls in the first half against the home side, Bayern continued to maintain control and then took the lead before the break.
Leon Goretzka beat Neven Subotic to a loose ball in the ball and won a penalty from the challenge of the Serbian defender. Lewandowski stepped up against fellow Pole Rafal Gikiewicz and slotted his home spot-kick for the first goal of the resumed season, going to Bayern.
The game continued into the second half in this same state. Union’s Grischa Prömel sent a half-volley wide across the target. However, Hansi Flick’s troops kept control of the game while keeping sufficiently composed to not force themselves forward.
Leon Goretzka approaching a second goal for Bayern, but in vain. With 20 minutes to play, top Union scorer Sebastian Andersson came on.
Gnabry had a couple of chances of putting the game to bed but it was Pavard who did the job by heading home from a corner in Joshua Kimmich.
Neuer made sure of his clean sheet with a late save from Felix Kroos as Bayern restored their four-point cushion in front of Borussia Dortmund and the chasing pack at the top of the Bundesliga table.
Here is the line-up, and other related details, for the game:
Union Berlin 0-2 Bayern Munich
Goals: 0-1 Lewandowski (40′), 0-2 Pavard (80′)
Line-ups:
Union: Gikiewicz – Hübner, Schlotterbeck, Subotic – Trimmel (c), Prömel (Kroos 85′), Andrich (Gentner 71′), Lenz – Ingvartsen (Mees 81′), Bülter (Ryerson 85′) – Ujah (Andersson 70′)
Unused subs: Nicolas, Reichel, Parensen, Polter
Out: Becker (thigh), Friedrich (suspended), Gogia (match fitness), Malli (match fitness)
Coach: Urs Fischer
Bayern: Neuer (c) – Pavard, Boateng, Alaba, Davies – Kimmich, Thiago – Gnabry (Perisic 85′), Goretzka (Coman 71′), Müller ( Cuisance 89′) – Lewandowski
Unused subs: Ulreich, Odriozola, Hernandez, Mai, Zirkzee
Out: Coutinho (ankle), Martinez (match fitness), Süle (match fitness), Tolisso (ankle)
Coach: Hansi Flick
