Bayern beat Union Berlin 2-0 to stretch lead

BUNDESLIGA

Sunday results

Union Berlin 0-2 Bayern Munich

Cologne 2-2 Mainz

Robert Lewandowski bagged his 26th league goal this season as leaders Bayern Munich restarted the Bundesliga season with a 2-0 win at Union Berlin behind closed doors on Sunday.

Lewandowski netted a first-half penalty and defender Benjamin Pavard scored a late header for Bayern in Berlin after the Bundesliga became the first top European league on Saturday to resume during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Poland star Lewandowski, who missed two games with injury before the league was interrupted in mid-March, reached 40 goals for the campaign in all competitions as Bayern restored their four-point lead over Borussia Dortmund.

*Bayern’s midfielder Serge Gnabry tried to score past Union Berlin’s keeper Rafal Gikiewicz*

Dortmund, who thrashed Schalke 4-0 in the Ruhr derby on Saturday, host Bayern in a pivotal fixture in 10 days’ time, another game that will be behind closed doors due to the league’s strict hygiene guidelines.

Union had shocked previous leaders Dortmund and Borussia Moenchengladbach earlier in the season, backed by passionate home support at their Alten Foersterei stadium.

Empty stands in Berlin

However, with the players’ voices echoing around the Union stadium, Bayern dominated their mid-table opponents.

Thomas Mueller looked to have given Bayern an early lead on 18 minutes when Serge Gnabry presented him with a simple tap-in.

However, the goal was disallowed when the video assistant referee (VAR) spotted Mueller was offside.

With Bayern enjoying around 70 percent possession, it was just a matter of time before they took the lead.

Sure enough when Union defender Neven Subotic fouled Leon Goretzka in the area on 38 minutes, Lewandowski stepped up to slot home the resulting penalty.

After the break, dogged defending by the hosts repeatedly frustrated Bayern.

To help grab a second goal to seal the result, Bayern coach Hansi Flick brought on French winger Kingsley Coman for his 100th Bundesliga appearance.

It was his countryman Pavard who made the points safe on 80 minutes when he headed a Joshua Kimmich corner inside the far post.

Union’s best chance came in the dying stages when Felix Kroos, brother of Germany star Toni, fired straight at Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.