Bayern Beat Freiburg 3-1, Retake Top Spot

Bayern Munich beat Freiburg 3-1 away on October 25 to return to the top of the Bundesliga, a week before their showdown with Borussia Dortmund.

Dortmund's win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday had knocked Bayern off the summit, so the visitors needed a result in Freiburg. They took the lead in the 16th minute. Dayot Upamecano struck a stunning long-range shot after a pass from Michael Olise. Bayern then doubled their lead just before the break. Serge Gnabry scored in the 42nd minute, set up by Nathaniel Brown. It was Gnabry's 100th Bundesliga goal.

Bayern went into half-time 2-0 up but were not in full control. Freiburg goalkeeper Mio Backhaus made a good save to deny Ismael Saibari after an Olise pass, and the home side stayed in the game. The tension rose in the second half. In the 82nd minute, Bayern defender Tom Bischof put the ball into his own net, which cut the lead to 2-1 and set up a nervous finish.

Bayern held on and sealed the win with the last kick of the match. Michael Olise scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time to make it 3-1. The numbers showed Bayern as the clear better side, with an expected goals figure of 2.99 against 0.90 for Freiburg. They had 56 per cent of the possession and 17 shots to 16.

It was Bayern's first match without head coach Vincent Kompany on the bench, as he missed the game because of an illness.

Bayern now have 17 points from seven games, with five wins and two draws. That is level with Dortmund on points, but Bayern are back on top because of a better goal difference. Freiburg stay on 13 points.

The result sets up a huge match next. Bayern host Dortmund in Der Klassiker on Saturday, October 31, kick-off 11:00 PM IST. Freiburg visit Augsburg on the same day.