Bayern Munich Bundesliga clash with Union Berlin descended into chaos as Union Berlin manager Nenad Bjelica squared up with Bayern Munich star Leroy Sane during the match, MySportDab reports.
After a barren first half draw, Raphael Guerrero fired Bayern Munich into the lead a minute into the second half. It was barren on both ends after Guerrero’s goal, and a dragging goal drought which denied the host a chance to secure the lead and the visitors an equaliser flipped the game into a confrontational encounter.
Bayern Munich were still leading with 15 minutes left to play when Union Berlin manager Nenad Bjelica attacked Leroy Sane on the touchline.
Sane had went to retrieve the ball for throwing before he was seemingly obstructed by Bjelica, who held onto the ball. Trying to have the ball from Bjelica who seemed not to give the ball out quickly, the German footballer met the wrath of the Croat, who punched him two times in the face.
A melee broke out between the two teams following the fallout with the center-referee Frank Willenborg barnishing Bjelica from the techical area with a red card while Leroy Sane was warned with a yellow card.
Reacting to the incident after the game, Bjelica said he understood why he was sent off and his behaviour ‘cannot be tolerated’ but refused to apologise to Sane.
‘I’m in my zone and want to give him the ball. He pushed me. Then of course I reacted,’ he said.
Asked whether he would apologise, he added: ‘Only to my team. It’s not tolerating it. Not with Sané. He comes towards me to provoke me. Of course I don’t react the way
Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel offered a diplomatic response after the incident.
‘It’s not good,’ he said. ‘It’s hard to defend him. But I don’t want to say anything about it. I don’t need to add fuel to the fire.’
Bayern Munich won 1-0 after the final whistle closing up the point gap on Bayer Leverkusen to 4 points. They will hope to maintain their winning run when they take on Augsburg in their next clash on Saturday, January 27, 2024.
Video;
