‘Panicky’ Bayern held in Freiburg to boost Leverkusen title hopes – Malay Mail
![](https://www.malaymail.com/malaymail/uploads/images/2024/03/02/thumbs/400x400/190840.jpg)
FREIBURG IM BREISGAU (Germany), March 2 â Bayern Munich were held to a 2-2 draw at Freiburg yesterday, an 87th-minute equaliser from Lucas Hoeler giving leaders Bayer Leverkusen a chance to go 10 points clear.
Mathys Telâs 35th-minute stunner had cancelled out an impressive opener from Freiburg captain Christian Guenter, before Jamal Musialaâs spectacular solo effort looked to have snared the three points for Bayern.
Hoeler however had other ideas, chipping a volley through a crowded Bayern penalty area and past a helpless Manuel Neuer.
Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel criticised his playersâ âbody language and lack of biteâ in the first half an hour, telling DAZN âwe played completely without structure and had no discipline and werenât in our positions.â
Advertisement
Calling his side âpanickyâ, Tuchel said: âWe did things that weâve never trained, that weâve never spoken about.
âWe played like it was the 85th minute and we were a goal down.â
Musiala told DAZN he felt âfrustratedâ.
Advertisement
âSince Iâve been at Bayern itâs been in my head that we must win and we hate to lose. We want to win the Bundesliga, we want to win titles,â he said.
Bayern have now failed to win away from home in four matches dating back to January in both the Bundesliga and Champions League.
Tuchelâs side face Lazio at home in the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday, staring down an early exit with a 1-0 deficit from the first leg in Rome.
âSimply instinctâ
Xabi Alonsoâs unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen can go 10 points clear of the Bavarians with a win against lowly Cologne in their derby clash on Sunday as they chase a first-ever Bundesliga title.
âWe played a good gameâ Freiburgâs Vincenzo Grifo told DAZN. âItâs clear that you have to suffer against Bayern.â
Guenter blasted the hosts into the lead after 12 minutes, unleashing a spinning rocket from outside the box and into the bottom right of the goal.
The goal was the Freiburg captainâs first of the season and the clubâs only strike from outside the box this campaign.
Not content to allow Guenter to dominate the highlights reel, Tel hit back with a dream goal of his own, curling in a long-range effort on his second league start this season.
With 15 minutes remaining, and Bayern dominating possession but failing to carve out clear chances, Musiala dribbled past three Freiburg defenders and blasted a low shot into the right corner.
âSimply instinctâ said Musiala of the goal. âYou try and you dribble and see what you can create.â
Despite holding the lead Bayern grew passive, dropping deep to hold onto their slender lead.
With just three minutes of regular time remaining, Hoeler held off several Bayern defenders and chipped a volley over Neuer and into the goal.
The draw spoilt the first day at work for Bayern sporting director Max Eberl, who said during his unveiling this week the side would still push Leverkusen for the title.
The point sees Freiburg finish the night in ninth place in a crowded Bundesliga table, with only five points separating seventh and 15th places. â AFP