Bayern Grind Out 3–1 Win After Tough Battle With St. Pauli | OneFootball

Bayern Munich emerged with a hard-fought 3–1 victory over St. Pauli after a surprisingly close and intense match at the Allianz Arena. Despite dominating possession, the champions were pushed to their limits before two late goals finally secured the win.

Here is our full match report:

First half:

The evening at the Allianz Arena began with emotion and applause, as Bayern bid farewell to Kingsley Coman, who was honored on the pitch moments before kickoff. The winger received a warm ovation from supporters and teammates alike, marking a heartfelt goodbye to a player who shaped some of Bayern’s biggest moments in recent years.

The match then opened with a milestone of its own: Manuel Neuer climbed to second place for most Bundesliga appearances by a goalkeeper, adding yet another line to his illustrious career.

Bayern settled quickly into dominant possession, displaying neat, incisive combinations as they pushed St. Pauli deep into their own half. But just as Bayern appeared fully in control, the match pivoted sharply. In the 6th minute, a rare mistake from Konrad Laimer allowed Jackson Irvine to dispossess him in midfield.

St. Pauli immediately pounced: Ritzka played a perfectly weighted pass to Hountondji, who beat Neuer at his near post with a composed finish. Against all expectations - and completely against the run of play - St. Pauli led 1–0, marking the earliest goal Bayern have conceded all season.

St. Pauli’s goalscorer soon became their next setback, however, as Hountondji was forced off with an injury. Daniel Sinani came on as his replacement.

Bayern responded by steadily increasing the pressure. Lennart Karl came closest first, curling a left-footed effort off the post in classic Robben style in the 23rd minute. Minutes later, Bischof added to Bayern’s frustration when his long-range strike thundered off the crossbar - Bayern were dominant, but luck seemed firmly against them.

Relief finally arrived before the break. A long ball from Kim Min-jae found Díaz inside the box. Even while falling to the ground, Díaz managed to guide the ball toward Raphaël Guerreiro, who slotted home with precision to score his second goal of the season, bringing Bayern deservedly level at 1–1.

Bayern headed into halftime with momentum - but St. Pauli, thanks to their stunning start, remain very much in the fight.

Second half:

The second half began with Bayern pushing forward, but still struggling to unlock St. Pauli’s compact and disciplined defense. In the 56th minute, Luis Díaz came close when a pass-shot rolled teasingly along the goalline, though the move was called back for offside.

St. Pauli’s organization continued to frustrate the champions, prompting Kompany to introduce Serge Gnabry and Josip Stanišić in search of new solutions. With Bayern’s flow still shaky from their recent European setback, the substitutions came with a clear question: could Bayern reassert themselves, or had the Arsenal defeat disrupted their rhythm more deeply?

One player who helped answer that question was Michael Olise, whose impact was immediate. His sharp dribbling, quick passing and constant dynamism consistently pulled St. Pauli out of shape and generated multiple dangerous situations.

But Bayern’s biggest missed chance came from Harry Kane, who smashed a powerful effort off the post in the 81st minute, drawing collective disbelief from the Allianz Arena.

The closing phase became a siege of the St. Pauli penalty area. Bayern’s pressure finally produced a breakthrough when Joshua Kimmich lifted a precise cross onto the head of Luis Díaz, who nodded past Nikola Vasilj from close range to give Bayern a late 2–1 lead.

And once the dam broke, it all came flowing. In the final moments, Nicolas Jackson put the result beyond doubt, finishing clinically to make it 3–1 and secure the points for the Bavarians.

Bayern walked away with a well-earned 3–1 victory, a hard-fought but vital response after the disappointment against Arsenal. More than just three points, it was a much-needed boost to the team’s mentality as they look to regain momentum in the Bundesliga title race.