An unstoppable 25-metres strike from defender Matthijs de Ligt handed Bayern Munich a 1-0 victory over Freiburg on Saturday, keeping it two points clear at the top of the table with seven games remaining.
The Bavarians, who faces Manchester City in the Champions League quarterfinal first leg next week, had been beaten at home by Freiburg 2-1 in the German Cup last eight on Tuesday.
Desperate to make amends and protect their Bundesliga lead, Bayern had possession and a couple of good chances in the first half.
But it was Freiburg who came closer to scoring with Ritsu Doan catching Bayern’s Alphonso Davies napping on the stroke of halftime but sending his effort onto the post.
Bayern was not at itd best and coach Thomas Tuchel, in his second league game in charge, had to wait until six minutes after the restart for his team to finally break the deadlock.
De Ligt then took matters into his own hands after the interval, breaking the deadlock and beating keeper Mark Flekken with his unstoppable missile into the top corner.
“We deserved to win and we had chances in both halves,” Tuchel told reporters. “It was good that we stayed with it and pulled it through and we did not get negative after missing a few chances.”
“We wanted to make amends, even if there’s no way of getting the Cup game back. But with 1-0 it was a deserved win. Now it’s a quick switch-over for Tuesday because there is no alternative.”
The Bavarians should have scored again with Leroy Sane on the hour later but the player chipped over the bar with only Flekken to beat.
It lead the title race on 58 points, with Borussia Dortmund on 56 in second place.
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