Borussia Dortmund 0 – 1 Bayern Munich

Borussia Dortmund 0 – 1 Bayern Munich

• Bayern’s solitary goal by Kimmich the difference between the two
• The result sent Bayern seven points clear of Dortmund
• Mental Health and Psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Bayern Munich’s solitary goal over Dortmund sent them seven points clear at the summit of the table.

It was billed as the match of the ‘new season’ with both teams boasting of confidence from their previous matches.

With two of the best strikers in the world, marauding full backs and devastating wide men, punters and bookies had the match with plenty of goals.

Dortmund had a new weapon in the name of Erling Haaland – the Norwegian boy who keeps scoring, with 10 goals in nine Bundesliga games.

The Bavarians had the leading goalscorer in the Bundesliga, the Champions League and the German Cup in Robert Lewandowski.

The two strikers were to be fed by a hive of creative midfielders, electric wide-men and ever-running fullbacks.

When the team sheets were released, Bayern’s Serge Gnabry had gotten his place back after starting from the bench over the weekend. However, Dortmund’s winger line-up had a significant name on the bench. A name that continues to be linked with a big-money move back to England. Jadon Sancho.

The two backlines had familiar names in Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels – two veteran defenders with wealth of experience of such games.

However, there was one huge significant miss – the Yellow Wall. A wall that carried cheers, singing and intimidation to visiting teams. It is the ‘new normal’.

The Game

A minute of silence was observed by the two teams for those affected by the coronavirus.

30 seconds in, the hosts were close to a dream opening goal in a frantically ferocious start.

After Neuer – in his classic sweeper-keeper mantra – strode out to intercept a defence-splitting pass, Haaland latched on to the loose ball but his weak shot was cleared off the line comfortably by Boateng, whose experience showed to be there in the first place.

That immediately set the tone, with both sides forming piercing attacks throughout the first-half.

Yet as the half wore on, as Bayern settled into a rhythm in contrast to Dortmund’s rapid transition from defence to attack, the dominance of the visitors slowly but surely came to pass.

As the half drew to a close, the fell to Kimmich some yards from the penalty box.

But a beautiful caress of the right-foot sent the ball sailing over Burki, who got the faintest of touches as the ball rippled into the far corner.

After the break Dortmund boss Facre had to swing to action, and so he did when he sent in Jadon Sancho and Emre Can.

And though Bayern started proceedings brightly again, Dortmund came the closest, with Haaland’s goalbound shot deflected just wide off Boateng’s upper-arm. Bayern fans would say shoulder, Dortmund supporters would say arm. Yet fascinatingly, the most surprising aspect was that the game quickly went on uninterrupted, with no delay for any referral to the Video Assistant Referee.

Shortly after the Norwegian hobbled off injured. The look on his face summed up the match for Dortmund.

The hosts pushed for an equalizer, but it was the Bavarians who had the last smile.