Bundesliga: Muller strikes late to send Bayern four points clear at the top

Bayern Munich bounced back from two defeats in a row by beating Freiburg 2-1 on a snowy afternoon in Bavaria.

Robert Lewandowski struck early with the hosts looking to put their recent defeats to Holstein Kiel and Borussia Monchengladbach behind them. However, Freiburg refused to go away and substitute Nils Petersen stooped lowest on 70 minutes to net an unlikely equaliser with his first touch.

But it would be in vain: Thomas Muller, ever-reliable for the champions, profited from a Leroy Sane knockdown off a Kingsley Coman cross, and the experienced attacking midfielder fired the Bavarians back into the lead, and more pertinently, to the three points.

The home side started in a scintillating manner; Serge Gnabry particularly bright off the right flank, whilst Muller picked up the pockets of space where no central defender wants to go.

A wonderful passing passage, full of zip and interchange, saw Joshua Kimmich, Gnabry, Muller and Lewandowski combine to score a sensational team goal, and stun the in-form away side, who had earlier suffered the injury of key midfielder Baptiste Santamaria.

Gnabry hobbled off injured himself on half an hour, and Sane replaced him, but Bayern retained their energy and creativity, despite a mid-game drop-off that saw Petersen exploit a continued weakness at set-plays for the league leaders.

Muller. however, had the last laugh, striking a fatal blow into Freiburg hearts as the champions held on for the win, which takes them four points clear at the top of the Bundesliga table.