Newly promoted DSC Arminia Bielefeld played host to reigning Bundesliga champions FC Bayern Munich at the SchücoArena on Saturday evening. The match of the day was held behind closed doors as the city of Bielefeld was declared a COVID-19 risk area a day before the match.

Bielefeld had an impressive track record before the match with their last defeat at home dating back to October 29, 2019. But head coach Uwe Neuhaus and his team were aware of the uphill task against the UEFA Champions League winners, who had won the last Bundesliga encounter between these two sides on April 18, 2009 courtesy to a Luca Toni goal.

“We’ll probably lose nine out of ten games against Bayern. But we won’t wait till those nine games are over. I dare to predict Bayern will have more possession on Saturday, but we won’t surrender without a fight because of that. We have to look for a way forward and stay dangerous,” Neuhaus had told at the pre-match press conference.

His counterpart, FC Bayern head coach Hansi Flick had said: “Bielefeld are newcomers who want to play football. Uwe Neuhaus has a team with a very good philosophy who want to build the game from the back, and they have very good footballers in their ranks. It will be a very interesting and exciting game.”

The German champions were in control right from kick-off, while Bielefeld looked quite nervous in the early stages of the match.

Thomas Müller opened the score sheet for the visitors in the 8th minute, when a perfect pass by Robert Lewandowski found a free Müller in front of Bielefeld goalkeeper Stefan Ortega Morena. Müller’s first attempt was saved by Ortega Morena, but the rebound found its way into the net.

Bayern doubled their lead in the 25th minute, when Lewandowski hit the target with a powerful right-footed strike from just outside the box.

Bielefeld captain Fabian Klos almost reduced the msrgin in the 31st minute, but his attempt was saved by Manuel Neuer.

Lewandowski further increased Bayern’s lead seconds before the half-time break, when his shot was deflected and found its way past Ortega to give Bayern a 3-0 advantage at the breather.

The Poland international almost completed a hat-trick moments into the second half. But his attempt was denied by the crossbar.

Bayern scored their fourth goal of the match in the 51st minute when Thomas Müller chipped the ball over Ortega Morena.

It looked liked Bielefeld were all set to concede a few more goals, but the home side pulled one back in the 58th minute. Japan international Ritsu Doan perfectly finished a well executed counter attack to score his debut goal for Arminia Bielefeld.

Ritsu almost scored a brace a few moments later, but his shot was deflected over the crossbar.

Bayern managed to claim a much deserved 4-1 in Bielefeld despite a red card for Tolisso.

Bayern are now placed second in the Bundesliga table. Bielefeld have dropped to 14th.

DSC Arminia Bielefeld 1-4 FC Bayern Munich

Goals
0-1 Thomas Müller (8′)
0-2 Robert Lewandowski (25′)
0-3 Robert Lewandowski (45′)
0-4 Thomas Müller (51′)
1-4 Ritsu Doan (58′)

Line-up

DSC Arminia Bielefeld
Ortega – de Medina (83′ Behrendt), Pieper, van der Hoorn, Lucoqui – Kunze (70′ Schipplock), Prietl – Gebauer (70′ Yabo), Hartel (90′ Edmundsson), Doan (90′ Seufert) – Klos [C]

FC Bayern München
Neuer [C] – Pavard, Süle, Alaba, Hernandez (90′ Davies) – Tolisso, Goretzka (65′ Martinez) – Gnabry (65′ Costa), Müller, Coman (86′ Musiala) – Lewandowski (86′ Choupo-Moting)

Bookings

Yellow Card
73′ de Medina (DSC Arminia Bielefeld)
Red Card
76′ Tolisso (FC Bayern Munich)

Match Officials

Referee
Daniel Siebert

Assistant Referee
Lasse Koslowski, Jan Seidel

Fourth Officals
Guido Winkmann

Video Assistant Referees
Robert Schröder, Eduard Beitinger