Bayern Munich eased past Bayer Leverkusen with a comfortable 3-0 victory at the Allianz Arena on Saturday, despite resting several key players ahead of their Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain. Manager Vincent Kompany made seven changes to the starting lineup, giving opportunities to players who haven't featured as prominently this season. The result extended Bayern's winning streak and demonstrated the depth and quality within the squad.
Serge Gnabry, Nicolas Jackson, and an own goal by Leverkusen's Loïc Badé secured the win for the Bavarians, all within a dominant first half. Gnabry opened the scoring in the 25th minute, latching onto a precise pass from Tom Bischof and slotting the ball home. Six minutes later, Jackson headed in a pinpoint cross from Konrad Laimer to double Bayern's advantage. Badé's own goal in the 43rd minute further solidified Bayern's lead.
Despite the rotated lineup, Bayern maintained control throughout the match, dictating the tempo and limiting Leverkusen's opportunities. Leverkusen, who had been on a strong run of form, struggled to break down Bayern's defense and failed to register a shot on target until late in the game.
Kompany's decision to rest stars like Harry Kane, Luis Díaz, and Michael Olise raised eyebrows before the game, but the manager emphasized the importance of squad rotation amidst a busy schedule. He explained that the rested players were fully supportive of the decision, understanding the need to manage workload and ensure freshness for the upcoming Champions League fixture. According to Kompany, it felt like the "ideal moment" to give some players a break while giving others a chance to prove themselves.
Gnabry echoed his manager's sentiments, highlighting the significance of the victory and the team's strength in depth. "It's a great sign from the coach to pick players who haven't been so fortunate. For them to then perform like this is great," Gnabry told Sky Germany. "It makes us much stronger as a unit when you come out with a result like this against such an opponent".
The win extended Bayern's impressive start to the season, with the team now sitting comfortably at the top of the Bundesliga table. The victory also served as a confidence booster ahead of their crucial Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain. Bayern will travel to Paris on Tuesday, where they will face a PSG side eager for revenge after losing to Bayern in their previous encounters.
While Bayern's rotated squad cruised to victory, Leverkusen's defeat marked the end of their impressive away run in the Bundesliga. The result highlighted the gap in quality between the two sides and reinforced Bayern's dominance in the league.
