BERLIN: Bayern Munich earned their third straight win of the season with a 2-0 victory over Nuremberg yesterday, but still found themselves third on goal difference in the Bundesliga.
French winger Franck Ribery’s header on 69 minutes broke the deadlock before Dutch star Arjen Robben scored for Pep Guardiola’s European champions who had missed a first-half penalty.
The win at Munich’s sold-out Allianz Arena in front of 71,000 fans marks the start of a busy seven-day period for Bayern who have an away league game at Freiburg on Tuesday, then travel to Prague for Friday’s showdown with Chelsea for UEFA’S Super Cup.
Guardiola started with a star-studded attacking midfield with wingers Robben and Ribery either side of Spain’s Thiago Alcantara and Germany playmaker Mario Goetze, who made his debut for Bayern after joining from Borussia Dortmund.
The hosts rode their luck in the first-half as only the crossbar denied Nuremberg when striker Daniel Ginczek’s shot clattered off the underside with Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer beaten on 15 minutes. Bayern were awarded a penalty on 33 minutes by referee Christian Dingert when Robben was brought down by Sweden defender Per Nilsson, but the replay showed the Dutchman used his hand to keep the ball from going out. Justice was served when David Alaba’s spot kick was saved by Nuremberg goalkeeper Raphael Schaefer.
With time running out, Ribery headed home before a crisp shot from Robben on 78 minutes to maintain Bayern’s 100 percent record this season in the league.
Goal-difference leaves Bayern third behind leaders Borussia Dortmund, who beat Werder Bremen 1-0 at home on Friday, and second-placed Bayer Leverkusen. Schalke, suffered another confidence-sapping defeat as they lost 2-1 at Hanover 96.
The guests had defender Benedikt Hoewedes sent off on 14 minutes for bringing down Hanover striker Mame Diouf with only the goalkeeper to beat and Hungary midfielder Szabolcs Huszti drilled home the penalty.
Diouf then headed home three minutes from the break to leave Schalke reeling before striker Adam Szalai pulled one back for Schalke in the second-half. AFP
