Bayern Munich complete late comeback to defeat Freiburg 3-2
FC Bayern Munich scored three times in the final ten minutes to snatch a dramatic 3-2 victory over SC Freiburg at the Allianz Arena on Friday. Trailing 2-0 with nine minutes of normal time remaining, a late brace from Tom Bischof and a stoppage-time winner from Lennart Karl secured a crucial three points for the Bundesliga leaders.
Bayern manager Vincent Kompany had rotated his squad ahead of Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid, leaving Harry Kane out and starting key players like Dayot Upamecano, Konrad Laimer, Aleksandar Pavlovic, and Michael Olise on the bench. The altered lineup struggled for fluency against a disciplined Freiburg side, according to match reports from Sportschau. Freiburg took a deserved lead just after half-time through Johan Manzambi's superb long-range strike, before Lucas Höler doubled the advantage in the 71st minute after a rare error from Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
The game appeared to be slipping away from the hosts until the 81st minute, when Tom Bischof, a recent signing from Freiburg, ignited the comeback with a powerful shot from distance. Bischof, who joined Bayern in a transfer last summer, struck again in the second minute of added time with another precise finish from outside the box to level the score. The turnaround was completed deep into stoppage time when Joshua Kimmich and Alphonso Davies combined to set up Lennart Karl for a simple tap-in.
The result maintains Bayern's position at the top of the Bundesliga table and provides a significant morale boost ahead of their European fixture. For Freiburg, it represents a devastating collapse after a performance that had merited at least a point. Speaking after the match, Kompany acknowledged the strength of the opposition, telling Sportschau, "We played against a very strong Freiburg. I knew this team fights incredibly well."
The late goals underscored the impact of Tom Bischof since his move to Munich. The young attacker's development at Freiburg had made him one of the Bundesliga's most promising talents, and his ability to influence games from midfield was a key factor in Bayern's pursuit. His performance against his former club demonstrated the immediate value he provides, especially in the absence of rested stars.
For Freiburg, the defeat is a harsh lesson in closing out matches against the league's elite. Manager Julian Schuster expressed frustration with the amount of added time but praised his team's effort in his post-match comments. The club will now regroup for their next match against Mainz 05, while Bayern travel to face St. Pauli in the league before their crucial European tie in Madrid.
