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For years now, Manuel Neuer has been established as the premier sweeper-keeper in the world. The German World Cup winner and Bayern Munich No. 1 essentially redefined the position. But even Neuer gets things wrong from time to time.
A stunning mistake from Manuel Neuer vs Paderborn nearly cost Bayern three points on Friday. The visitors twice pegged back the reigning champions before Robert Lewandowski saved Neuer’s blushes with an 88th-minute winner for a 3-2 victory at Allianz Arena.
Bayern went into the weekend with a one-point lead over Borussia Dortmund atop the Bundesliga. Despite this, Fox decided to throw the league-leaders on Fox Soccer Plus in the U.S., a service no one in their right mind would pay for, instead of FS1 or FS2 like it usually does for the Friday match from Germany. Apparently, loud-mouth Colin Cowherd and NASCAR — not a race, fucking practice — were deemed more important than the best football team in Germany.
Regardless of the fact no one in the U.S. could really see the match, it looked like it’d be an easy win for Bayern against bottom-of-the-table Paderborn. Serge Gnabry danced around in the box before putting away the first goal in the 25th minute.
Serge Gnabry cooks up the opening goal for Bayern in his 100th career @Bundesliga_EN game! pic.twitter.com/DlGgZpfZ1P
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 21, 2020
Just before halftime, the brutal mistake from Manuel Neuer vs Paderborn ensured the home side would not have an easy day at the park.
Neuer, as he so often does, raced off his line to collect a ball played over the top for Dennis Srbeny. This time, however, Neuer failed to come out with conviction. As the two opponents met at the ball, Neuer completely whiffed, allowing the former Norwich City striker to prance toward goal.
Srbeny took his time, allowed two Bayern defenders to sweep by him before firing into the empty net.
When Neuer-ing goes wrong. pic.twitter.com/PMH8jQsGZN
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 21, 2020
Lewandowski would restore Bayern’s lead in the 70th minute only for the home side to be pegged back again by a strike from Sven Michel, who had an easy tap-in after a save from Neuer bounced right to him.
IT'S TIED AGAIN!
Last-place Paderborn are sniffing at a HUGE surprise in the @Bundesliga_EN pic.twitter.com/eh5GRUGjvA— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 21, 2020
Paderborn was unable to hold on for a draw as the league’s second-to-worst defense showed why it’s shipped 50 goals this season, leaving Lewandowski unmarked in the box in the 88th minute.
Need a late winner, @FCBayernUS?
You know who to call. pic.twitter.com/suewP1rI07— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 21, 2020
The late winner means Neuer can sleep easy knowing his rueful mistake didn’t cost his team any points. But, uh, maybe we can start up that conversation about Marc-André Ter Stegen taking over as Germany’s No. 1 again?
