Their late win at Ingolstadt was the spirit of Old Bayern, as they are perceived nationally, and made it 25 points from 27 to go seven points clear at the top
There simply had to be some sort of tribute and, in the event, there was more than one, conscious and subconscious. As Bayern Munich worked to just about chisel out a win at struggling Ingolstadt – which ultimately proved to be even more valuable than it might have first appeared – it was impossible to ignore the context of the match, unfolding just four days after Philipp Lahm confirmed that he would indeed be retiring from football at the season’s close.
The most ostentatious hat tip to the captain was in the aftermath of Arjen Robben’s stoppage-time clincher, after Arturo Vidal’s 90th-minute goal has finally broke the dogged resistance of Maik Walpurgis’ team. The Dutchman ran roaring to the touchline where he, and his team-mates, embraced and eventually submerged Lahm, who had been substituted some 10 minutes before, in a jubilant huddle. This one’s for you, skipper.
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