Top Scorer Lewandowski's Double Lifts Bayern Munich Past Paderborn
22nd February 2020
Bayern twice surrendered the lead in Munich before securing the win which leaves them four points clear
- Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich squeezed past bottom side Paderborn 3-2 on Friday as Robert Lewandowski netted twice to spare goalkeeper Manuel Neuer's blushes in their final game before facing Chelsea in the Champions League
- Lewandowski now has a league-leading tally of 26 goals in the top flight, illustrating his importance to the team ahead of Tuesday's last 16, first-leg tie in London.
- With Bayern leading 1-0 thanks to Serge Gnabry's early goal, Neuer mistimed a clearance outside his area, allowing Paderborn midfielder Dennis Srbeny to fire into an empty net just before half-time
BERLIN,
Germany- Bundesliga
leaders Bayern Munich squeezed past bottom side Paderborn 3-2 on Friday as
Robert Lewandowski netted twice to spare goalkeeper Manuel Neuer's blushes in
their final game before facing Chelsea in the Champions League.
Lewandowski now has a league-leading tally of 26 goals in
the top flight, illustrating his importance to the team ahead of Tuesday's last
16, first-leg tie in London.
Bayern twice surrendered the lead in Munich before securing
the win which leaves them four points clear.
With Bayern leading 1-0 thanks to Serge Gnabry's early goal,
Neuer mistimed a clearance outside his area, allowing Paderborn midfielder
Dennis Srbeny to fire into an empty net just before half-time.
"I was worried about knocking into him, because that
would have been a red card," Neuer explained.
"I had the feeling he would get to the ball before me.
That's why it looks that way. It's part of my game and it happens."
However, Lewandowski then struck in the 70th minute to make
it 2-1, only for Paderborn to draw level again after poor defending allowed
Sven Michel a simple tap in 15 minutes from time.
However, there was still time for Lewandowski to fire home
the winner, thanks to Gnabry's superb cross.
In the build-up, Bayern coach Hansi Flick warned his team
had to focus on strugglers Paderborn, but the Bavarian giants seemed to have
one eye on Chelsea.
"Paderborn absolutely challenged us to the very
last," admitted Flick.
Paderborn had the ball in Bayern's net after four minutes
when their striker Streli Mamba slid the ball under Neuer, but the effort was
flagged offside.
As expected, Bayern took an early at the Allianz Arena when
Gnabry celebrated his 100th Bundesliga appearance by turning and hitting into
the bottom corner on 26 minutes.
Paderborn drew level after Neuer mistimed a clearance
outside the box.
The Germany captain had twice previously cleared the danger
by dealing with long-distance chances intended for Paderborn's forwards.
However, the tactic backfired a third time when he failed to
clear a ball over the defence meant for Srbeny, who kept his cool and slotted
into the empty Bayern net on 44 minutes.
With the scores locked at 1-1 and time ticking down,
Lewandowski restored the hosts' lead when Gnabry set him up for a lethal shot
on 70 minutes.
Paderborn, however, came back again and Michel gave them a
second equaliser by tapping home a rebound after Neuer had saved a shot by
replacement left-back Dennis Jastrzembski.
However, it was Gnabry again who provided the assist with an
inch-perfect cross which Lewandowski swept home two minutes from time to settle
the matter.