Baumann Bugs Bayern

Posted: 10:55 pm, August 27, 2013 by Carsten Arndt

Mueller was once again short of his best. Photo: DPA

SC Freiburg – FC Bayern Munich
Goals: 1-0 Shaqiri (33´) , 1-1 Höfler (86´)

In a early game from matchday four in the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich lost points for the first time this season against SC Freiburg. In front of 24,000 Xherdan Shaqiri put the record german champions ahead, who then despaired of an excellent goalkeeping performance from Baumann in the second half. In the final stages, they paid the price for their missed chances as substitute Nicolas Hoefler scored the well celebrated equaliser.

With half an eye on the UEFA Super Cup final on Friday, Guardiola gave some of his stars a break, including the goalscorers from the game against FCN - Robben and Ribéry . Despite seven changes overall, Bayern remained the favourite, especially considering their last defeat to Freiburg came 17 years ago.

Oliver Baumann (right) won Freiburg a pivotal point against Bayern Munich after a sterling display between the posts. Photo: DPA

But spurred on by their home fans, Freiburg at least matched their visitors in the early stages. They attacked very early and Schweinsteiger and Co. had some problems with their passing game, which resulted in lots of simple turnovers. Consequently, the home side had the first great chance to score the opener when right-back Oliver Sorg had a strong shot on goal only to see it well parried by Manuel Neuer. A few minutes later, his opposite number Oliver Baumann also proved his quality as he saved efforts from Shaqiri and Thomas Mueller in quick succession.

Afterwards, chances were few and far between but the game stayed intensive and enjoyable for the fans. However, the opening goal after 30 minutes was a bit of a surprise. After Mueller won his duel on the right wing, he put in a cross to the far post where Shaqiri fired the ball in for the lead. Bayern took more and more control of the game, but remain almost too confident.

As they had done on Saturday, Bayern turned on the style from the second half onwards. They played the ball into deeper areas of the pitch more often, and applied much more pressure. Then, around the hour-mark, the Oliver Baumann show started. At first he prevented the second goal from Shaqiri, saving a strong volley from the Swiss international. Shortly afterwards, Baumann’s teammate Charles-Elie Laprevotte had a clear-cut chance, but his effort just hit the outside of the post. Soon enough, Baumann was back on centre stage. In the space of one minute, he parried sensational against Toni Kroos and Mueller, to deny both of them the chance to decide the game. And as if that were not enough, young substitute Hoefler scored the equaliser after a good counterattack was finished off after a nice cross from Freis. With desire, luck and Oliver Bauman, Freiburg got one important point against Bayern Munich, who remained only good in patches.

SC Freiburg: Baumann – Sorg , Diagne , Ginter , Guenter – Schuster (61´ Hoefler) , Fernandes – Schmid , Laprevotte (60´ Kerk) - Freis , Guedé (75´ Hanke)

FC Bayern Munich: Neuer – Rafinha , van Buyten , Dante , Contento – Schweinsteiger – Shaqiri , Götze (62´ Lahm) , Kroos , Mueller - Pizarro

Yellow cards: Hoefler, Guenter – van Buyten
Attendance: 24,000
Referee: Florian Meyer