Bayern Munich opened up an eight-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga thanks to a 5-0 win over Werder Bremen at the Allianz Arena.
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Saturday’s clean sheet is Neuer’s 16th of the season, a mark which maintains his comfortable hold on first place among Bundesliga goalkeepers for this statistic.
Pep Guardiola admits feeling the pressure ahead of Bayern Munich s crunch Champions League last 16, second-leg, clash against past year s finalists Juventus on Wednesday in his swangsong season in Bavaria.
Bayern Munich have won their last nine home Champions League matches, by an aggregate score of 36-4 to boot.
“I’m the coach, but also a fan of this team and our positioning was better. I think Dortmund can win nine games in a row, so we need to make sure we win”, said Guardiola.
It was in the Juve dressing room at half-time last time out that the Italians finally awoke from their slumber and Paulo Dybala launched their salvage operation with his first goal in the competition on 63 minutes.
“It s the hardest thing in football to attack ten players and then prevent any counters”, said the Spaniard. The Bavarian’s let Juventus back into the game and were lucky to leave with a 2-2 draw after completely collapsing in the second half.
I respect all our opponents but let’s not forget that last year we got to the final and every year in Europe you have to try and confirm yourself.
Veteran striker Claudio Pizarro was out with a groin injury while captain Clemens Fritz and dead-ball expert Zlatko Junuzovic were suspended.
“Crazy, crazy” was Guardiola verdict on the form of France winger Kingsley Coman whose lightning feet and pin-point accurate crosses set up three of the goals.
Substitute Robert Lewandowski, who had come on in the 74th minute, netted his 24th league goal of the season four minutes from time to remain the leading Bundesliga scorer. Juventus, meanwhile, have only secured one result in their last five Champions League away matches that would send them through on Wednesday.
Players of Muenchen celebrate the 5th team goal during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and SV Werder Bremen at Allianz Arena on March 12, 2016 in Munich, Germany.
Franck Ribery headed Xabi Alonso’s cross over on the stroke of half-time, while the diligent Wiedwald got his fingertips to Thiago’s shot to tip it onto the top of the crossbar as Bayern started the second half the way they had finished the first.
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Thiago scored his first goals since February 2014 and Germany’s World Cup victor Mario Gotze started his first league game since October.
