Bayern needed Borussia Dortmund to lose in order to win the title against Gladbach. But the first condition didn't happen and the second almost didn't. And that's because Bayern almost fielded a B team.
Their opponents arrived without Plea, suspended, and after ten minutes they lost Thuram through injury. Flick's team, with one stroke of the pen, got rid of Gladbach's gunpowder. With Müller and Lewandowski at home and Coman or Davies on the bench, the second unit managed to take the lead after a goal cancelled out by VAR.
But it was not entirely Zirkzee's fault either, the 19-year-old striker who is already making a name for himself on the European scene. He has scored four goals in his ten years in the game. Sommer, a veteran Swiss goalkeeper, went from signing a save to a big mistake in less than five minutes. A risky and failed pass ended up at the feet of the Norwegian striker, who made it 1-0 after 26 minutes.
Before half-time, Pavard's own goal made it 1-1 and brought the game level for the second half. After the hour mark, Flick moved the bench and gave his team more quality and consistency. Coman and Davies went into a match that was resolved with four minutes remaining.
Goretzka beat Sommer in the 86th minute and gave his team three points to get them a little closer to the title.