Leroy Sane stars as Bayern go clear atop Bundesliga
Bayern Munich beat Augsburg 5-3 on Saturday to put some distance atop the Bundesliga table. The German giants are now three points ahead of rivals Borussia Dortmund. However, the Black and Yellows can catch Bayern with a win away to Schalke on Saturday night.
Manager Julian Nagelsmann made five changes to his team from the successful 2-0 Champions League win against Paris Saint-Germain midweek. Despite the refresh in personnel, Bayern still managed to flex their muscle and put five goals past visiting Augsburg.
After the match, Nagelsmann spoke on the need to change his team. “We have some injured players and we wanted to bring some freshness,” the coach told Sky Sports Germany. “But we trust the whole squad and we wanted to let other players play.”
Sane fits seamlessly into starting Bayern lineup
One of these additions into the starting XI was Leroy Sane. The German international hasn’t exactly nailed down a spot in Nagelsmann’s regular lineup. The attacker has just 14 starts in the Bundesliga so far this season. However, the former Manchester City man ran the show against Augsburg on Saturday.
Sane first assisted Joao Cancelo for the club’s opening goal of the game to level the scoreline in the early stages of the first half. He also scored at the edge of halftime to increase the host’s lead to 4-1.
Along with the direct goal involvements, much of Bayern’s attack ran through Sane. He by far led all of his midfield and forward teammates in accurate passes with 50. The German also racked up an impressive four key passes as well.
Coach praises Sane for top performance
Nagelsmann noticed Sane’s positive impact on the team in his post-match interview. “He has had situations where he can be better. But he’s always a threat when he’s got the ball at his feet and can dribble at speed.” claimed the coach. “Most attacks today went through him. It’s about that desire. He showed that today. That’s why I’m satisfied.”
Sane will hope that the performance can help keep his place in Nagelsmann’s starting lineup. Bayern now have more than a week off before facing Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday, March 19th.
Photo : IMAGO / Passion2Press