MUELLER CAPS MILESTONE
Scores in 250th league appearance as Bayern go 13 clear
BERLIN killed us on his own,” Garande admitted.
“We knew beforehand it was going to be a tough afternoon. We were deservedly beaten by a really, really great side.”
The 18-year-old Mbappe got off the mark on 13 minutes when, after a swift exchange of passes, he ran through the defence into the box and sent the ‘keeper the wrong way with a low hard shot.
Two days after being called up into the France squad for the first time, Mbappe proceeded to torment the Caen back-line into giving break.”
Thiago Alcantara was the architect for Mueller’s winner, flicking his pass over the Gladbach defence for the Germany star to fire home his 93rd Bundesliga goal from close range on 63 minutes.
“We knew it would be hard to get a win here, so we stepped on the turbo after the break,” Mueller told Sky.
It was only Mueller’s second league goal this season — having scored 20 in 2015/16 — and his first since December, but he has turned provider in this campaign with 11 assists in the league.
“After this season, I don’t know what a ‘typical Mueller’ goal is any more, but it’s fun to play with the lads. It’s been a good day,” he replied after a reporter commented he had scored a “typical Mueller” goal.
Bayern created numerous chances before Mueller’s breakthrough as Arjen Robben hit the post in the first-half and Robert away a penalty converted by Fabinho on 49 minutes to make it 2-0.
He then headed the third off the underside of the bar late in the game for Monaco’s 87th goal of the league season.
Next up for rampant Monaco is a date with Paris Saint Germain at the Stade de France in the League Cup final on April 1.
PSG, inspired by the return of Argentine star Javier Pastore who had been sidelined since February, played their first home game since their Champions Lewandowski forced Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer into a point-blank save with a header.
Lewandowski endured a frustrating afternoon and could not add to his 21 league goals in his race to be Germany’s top-scorer with Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has 23.
The only down side for Ancelotti was Xabi Alonso’s yellow card, his fifth of the season, for a foul on Andre Hahn which means the defensive midfielder is suspended for Bayern’s next game at Augsburg on April 1.
The hosts, who drop to 10th after the defeat, piled on the pressure at the end and had their chances to sneak a point as Swiss striker Josip Drmic was only denied by good defending by Bayern’s Javi Martinez.
Earlier, Schalke 04 climbed two places to ninth as masked Bosnia defender Sead Kolasinac produced a superb individual goal after 50 minutes in their 1-0 win at Mainz.
The 23-year-old was wearing a mask after breaking his nose last month.
But he showed great vision to finish a move he started, swapping passes with striker Guido Burgstaller, then dribbling into the area and firing home.
Schalke’s second-half replacement Nabil Bentaleb could have added a second goal at the death when he broke free of the defence, but could not beat Mainz’s Denmark goalkeeper Jonas Loessl. AFP League nightmare in Barcelona.
They were quickly behind at the Parc des Princes when Alexandre Lacazette scored following a corner after just six minutes.
But Adrien Rabiot, after 34 minutes, and German star Julian Draxler, six minutes later handed PSG an advantage they would not surrender.
“When we were knocked out of the Champions League, there was anger and disappointment, but we still have the League Cup and Ligue 1, so it was vital to quickly recover,” said Rabiot.
“We will need the fans behind us every time we play here.”
“The Champions League this year was an important objective. Now the main objective is the league title race.”
On Saturday, Mario Balotelli endured a frustrating afternoon as Nice dropped two vital points in their draw at mid-table Nantes.
However, the south coast side still look set for at least a Champions League qualifying spot next season by finishing third. AFP