Bayern beat Wolfsburg as Neuer plays 500th Bundesliga game

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Bayern Munich back to winning ways after easing past Wolfsburg

Two early goals help Bayern Munich breeze to a 2-0 victory over Wolfsburg to move to second in the Bundesliga going into the final weekend.

Updated: May 12, 2024, 08:04 pm

Second-placed Bayern Munich beat VfL Wolfsburg 2-0 with teenager Lovro Zvonarek scoring on his first start in their final Bundesliga home game of the season on Sunday as they eased towards the end of a trophy-less campaign.

Bayern have 72 points, two ahead of third-placed VfB Stuttgart with one game remaining.

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Four days after Bayern's Champions League semifinal exit to Real Madrid confirmed their first season without silverware in over a decade, the Bavarians put in a solid performance against the Wolves despite a string of changes to Thomas Tuchel's team.

They were missing striker Harry Kane, nursing a minor back problem, and were also without Serge Gnabry, who was injured in their defeat by Madrid, Leroy Sané and Jamal Musiala.

It was a day of milestones with Manuel Neuer making his 500th Bundesliga appearance, only the fourth goalkeeper in the league's history to reach the mark.

Bayern Munich players celebrate after beating Wolfsburg at the Allianz Arena.
Bayern Munich players celebrate after beating Wolfsburg at the Allianz Arena.
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Zvonarek, the 19-year-old Croatian who had only made a handful of substitute appearances for the team, scored four minutes into his first start, drilling home for the lead.

Leon Goretzka doubled the advantage nine minutes later with the hosts quickly taking full control of the game.

Bryan Zaragoza also thought he had netted on his first league start for the Bavarians but the 22-year-old Spaniard's effort was disallowed for offside.

The hosts took their foot off the gas with Tuchel's Bayern career coming to an end next week, a year earlier than his contract, after a disappointing domestic campaign that also included a German Cup exit to third-tier club Saarbrucken.

The former Chelsea and PSG manager did not join his players on the pitch to applaud the home supporters after their final home match.

"These are the moments for the players," he said when asked why he did not join his squad in front of the Bayern ultras. "I don't want to be in the spotlight there. That's for the team. I know that the cameras are there.

"I prefer to go in [to the changing rooms]. It is about the team. The fans are there for the team. They need to be celebrated."