Ancelotti hails Bayern’s ‘best’ firsthalf display

BERLIN: Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti hailed the Bundesliga leaders’ first-half performance in the 2-0 win over Borussia Moenchengladbach as their most impressive of the season.

First-half goals by Bayern’s Chile and Brazil internationals gave Ancelotti’s Munich their first win in three matches in Germany’s top flight after draws against Cologne and Eintracht Frankfurt.

The result at Munich’s Allianz Arena capped a good week for Bayern, who enjoyed a 4-1 romp against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Wednesday.

“We’ve learned from Frankfurt,” said Ancelotti after his side twice threw away the lead in last Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt.

“In the first half, it was a really good display, our best this season with a lot of intensity.

“We played a good game, we were strong in defence and had good control.

“I told the players at half-time to be careful as nothing was decided and you could see the energy wasn’t 100% after our midweek game.

“They are intelligent players and have taken on board what I told them.”

Ancelotti rested Germany forward Thomas Mueller from the starting line-up, but after Robert Lewandowski hit the post early on, Bayern went ahead after 16 minutes when Chile’s Vidal headed home Rafinha’s cross.

Winger Costa’s 31st-minute shot doubled the lead at Munich’s Allianz Arena, while Gladbach’s best chance came when winger Andre Hahn hit the post on 71 minutes.

Bayern centreback Mats Hummels said the draw at Frankfurt had been a wake up call and the defending champions responded by restricting Gladbach to Hahn’s one clear chance after the break.

“We put in a very concentrated, dominant performance in the first half, so we can be very satisfied. We didn’t allow them any chances,” said the Germany international.

“In the second half, we were too passive with the ball. We let things get a bit precarious on one or two occasions, but not much happened.”