Bayern ride on Mueller double

AFP, BERLIN: Thomas Mueller netted twice on Saturday as Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich came from behind to beat Darmstadt 3-1 in their last match before their Champions League clash at Juventus.
With second-placed Borussia Dortmund playing on Sunday, Bayern took their chance to go 11 points clear in Germany’s top flight but Mueller had to dig them out of trouble at the Allianz Arena before Robert Lewandowski added their third goal.
“Today’s match had nothing to do with Juventus, we’re just happy to have won and take three more points. It’ll be 0-0 again in Turin,” said Mueller when asked about Tuesday’s last 16, first leg, European clash.
“Obviously, it’s annoying that we conceded a goal from a header, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we will do the same against Juventus.”
Against the run of play, Pep Guardiola’s Bayern went behind when Darmstadt’s Munich-born striker Sandro Wagner headed home midway through the first half.
It was only the fifth time this season Bayern had gone behind. But using their 81 percent possession to fire in a total of 36 shots on goal to Darmstadt’s six, Guardiola’s side roared back to claim their 19th win in 22 league games this season.
Serdar Tasci made his debut at centre-back in a makeshift Bayern defence also featuring Rafinha, Joshua Kimmich and David Alaba.
Darmstadt went ahead when Wagner powered his header past Manuel Neuer on 26 minutes. But Bayern were back level four minutes into the second half when Mueller slammed his shot into the right-hand corner.
He added a superb second — his 17th league goal of the season — by chesting down Arturo Vidal’s cross and hitting a bicycle kick into Darmstadt’s net on 71 minutes.
Lewandowski added the third on 84 minutes when he converted Franck Ribery’s low cross after the Frenchman came off the bench for only his third appearance of the season.
It was Lewandowski’s 22nd goal of the season in 21 league games to leave him as the league’s top scorer.
Elsewhere, fresh from their 3-2 Champions League win at Gent in midweek, Wolfsburg picked up a point in the capital with a 1-1 draw at Hertha Berlin.

Bayern ride on Mueller double

AFP, BERLIN: Thomas Mueller netted twice on Saturday as Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich came from behind to beat Darmstadt 3-1 in their last match before their Champions League clash at Juventus. With second-placed Borussia Dortmund playing on Sunday, Bayern took their chance to go 11 points clear in Germanys top flight but Mueller had to dig them out of trouble at the Allianz Arena before Robert Lewandowski added their third goal. Todays match had nothing to do with Juventus, were just happy to have won and take three more points. Itll be 0-0 again in Turin, said Mueller when asked about Tuesdays last 16, first leg, European clash. Obviously, its annoying that we conceded a goal from a header, but that doesnt necessarily mean we will do the same against Juventus. Against the run of play, Pep Guardiolas Bayern went behind when Darmstadts Munich-born striker Sandro Wagner headed home midway through the first half. It was only the fifth time this season Bayern had gone behind. But using their 81 percent possession to fire in a total of 36 shots on goal to Darmstadts six, Guardiolas side roared back to claim their 19th win in 22 league games this season. Serdar Tasci made his debut at centre-back in a makeshift Bayern defence also featuring Rafinha, Joshua Kimmich and David Alaba. Darmstadt went ahead when Wagner powered his header past Manuel Neuer on 26 minutes. But Bayern were back level four minutes into the second half when Mueller slammed his shot into the right-hand corner. He added a superb second his 17th league goal of the season by chesting down Arturo Vidals cross and hitting a bicycle kick into Darmstadts net on 71 minutes. Lewandowski added the third on 84 minutes when he converted Franck Riberys low cross after the Frenchman came off the bench for only his third appearance of the season. It was Lewandowskis 22nd goal of the season in 21 league games to leave him as the leagues top scorer. Elsewhere, fresh from their 3-2 Champions League win at Gent in midweek, Wolfsburg picked up a point in the capital with a 1-1 draw at Hertha Berlin.