Bayern Munich 2-1 Borussia Monchengladbach: a tight victory
[espnstar.com]
Manager Louis van Gaal faces a pivotal few days just months into his reign at the Bavarians' helm, with tonight's game followed four days later by a winner-takes-all battle against Juventus in the Champions League.
Gladbach came into the match buoyed by their five-game unbeaten streak in the Bundesliga but were undone tonight as Holger Badstuber hit a winning free-kick after Roel Broewers had cancelled out Mario Gomez's opener for the home side.
Bayern set a good pace from the start and Danijel Pranjic fired a warning shot in the 10th minute with his left-footed shot being tipped around the post by Gladbach goalkeeper Logan Bailly.
Nine minutes later Bayern were ahead and it was much-criticised national team striker Gomez who produced the goal. Gomez collected the ball out towards the right and tried his luck from 20 yards, his precise effort flying into the bottom right-hand corner.
Pranjic was involved in most of Bayern's good work and crossed from the left only to see Gomez send his left-footed effort well over the bar.
In the 25th minute Philipp Lahm bombed down the right before cutting inside and shooting from outside the box with Bailly proving equal to it.
Former Mallorca winger Juan Arango finally produced a shot for Gladbach in the 26th minute but his superb 30-yard effort was saved brilliantly by Hans-Jorg Butt.
Arango's effort gave the visitors impetus, however, and two minutes later they were level. Broewers was centrally positioned in the penalty area and when Michael Bradley sent the ball in, he was perfectly placed to sweep it home.
Rob Friend forced Butt into another save six minutes before the break and Arango brought the best out of the Bayern keeper in added time with a 30-yard cracker.
The second half began quietly until Badstuber made it 2-1, curling home a free-kick from just outside the box superbly with his left foot.
Gladbach were rocked by the goal and there seemed little chance of a comeback as Mark van Bommel tried his luck but saw his shot deflected before Badstuber was denied by Bailly three minutes into injury time.
Source: http://www.espnstar.com/football/bundesliga/news/detail/item361900/Bayern-Munich-2-1-Gladbach/
