Put under pressure by Union Berlin, Leipzig and Freiburg, Bayern Munich once again stood still, forced by Randal Kolo Muani to draw (1-1) against Frankfurt on Saturday evening at the Allianz Arena, and saw the competition get closer to the standings.
With this third draw in 2023, after those conceded with the same score in Leipzig and at home against Cologne, Bayern total 37 points after 18 days, against 36 for Union Berlin, winner of the Berlin derby on the lawn of Hertha on Saturday (2-0). Follow Leipzig which beat Stuttgart on Friday (35 pts), Freiburg, which dominated Augsburg (34) and Frankfurt (32).
The tightening at the top of the Bundesliga could further densify on Sunday in the event of a victory for Dortmund (31 points) on the lawn of Bayer Leverkusen (5:30 p.m.) at the end of the 18th day of the championship. “Obviously we would have liked to win the first three matches of the year, but the Bundesliga is not a wish list. Our lead has completely melted,” commented Thomas Müller after the game.
Two and a half weeks before facing Paris SG in the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League, on February 14 at the Parc des Princes, Julian Nagelsmann’s players were under pressure not only by the results of their main competitors, but also internally, after a trip by Serge Gnabry to Paris Fashion Week last weekend, which did not please Bavarian leaders very much.
As in the match in Leipzig, the Munich defense gave way in the second half, and it was once again the tireless and indispensable Kolo Muani who equalized in the 69th minute. Launched in depth by the Japanese Daichi Kamada, who came into play a few minutes earlier, the French international deceived Sommer, to score his seventh goal of the season, he who also delivered ten assists in the Bundesliga.
He strengthens his place at the top of the Bundesliga “Scorelist” (goals and assists), for his first season with Eintracht.
This draw plunges Bayern into a mini-crisis and it will absolutely have to react in the next three matches which should lead to the clash in C1 against PSG at the Parc des Princes, starting with the round of 16 of the Coupe d Germany in Mainz on Wednesday, then another trip to Wolfsburg for the 19th day of the Bundesliga.
The slightest misstep risks paying dearly for the Munich residents, with a first place now threatened against competition that holds a candle to it.