Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich squeezed past bottom side Paderborn 3-2 on Friday as Robert Lewandowski netted twice to spare goalkeeper M...
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...
