Bundesliga
Noel Aséko salvaged a draw for Bayern Munich in a friendly at Basel, with Thomas Tuchel giving his full squad a slice of the action in Switzerland.
Basel 1-1 Bayern
Goals: 1-0 Gauto (59'), 1-1 Aséko (70')
Facing a Basel side struggling inside the bottom two of the Swiss Super League, Bayern would have been expected to do most of the running, and so it proved as the guests pegged their hosts into their own half. Joshua Kimmich started as right full-back, but that did not prevent him from being one of Bayern's most dangerous outlets, not least with his crosses and set pieces. Thomas Müller provided the first serious shot on the Basel goal, fizzing in an angled effort that stung the palms of former Augburg goalkeeper Marwin Hitz after 15 minutes. Harry Kane was under close observation from two solid lines of Basel defenders, as the Swiss side got men behind the ball, but the Englishman did get a dangerous cross in which was begging to be turned in, but there were no takers as the first half ended in deadlock.
A miscued effort from half-time substitute Juan Gauto suggested the script for the second half may vary from that of the first, and he was on hand to give the hosts a surprise lead with a fine finish into the top corner of Sven Ulreich's goal on the hour mark after Fabian Frei helped a Dominik Schmid cross on. Thierno Barry had two chances to double Basel's lead, with Ulreich needing to be at his best to thwart him as the hosts looked transformed. Bayern needed a transformation of their own, and they found it following four further substitutions. Debutant Lovro Zvonarek was denied only seconds after coming on before Noel Aséko fared even better with a volley from the edge of the area which took a deflection off Adriano Onyegbule on its way past Mirko Salvi. Zvonarek and Aséko had chances to snatch victory as Bayern reverted to their first-half dominant selves, only there was to be no way through as Basel frustrated the record champions at St.-Jakob-Park.
Match stats
Teams
Basel: Hitz (Salvi 46') - Lang (Adjetey 46'), Frei (c) (Ismaili 81'), Barisic (van Breemen 46', Vouilloz 78'), Schmid (Akahomen 77') - Kade (Akalé 46'), Avdullahu (Kayombo 67'), Veiga (Ryter 67'), Kololli (Onyegbule 46') - Jovanovic (Barry 46'), Beney (Gauto 46')
Unused subs: De Mol, Jashari, Senaya, Tröndle
Out: Comas (meniscus), Dräger (muscular), Hunziker (knee), López (knee), Malone (meniscus), Zé (toe)
Coach: Fabio Celestini
Bayern: Neuer (c) (46' Ulreich) - Kimmich, Upamecano (Wimmer 75'), De Ligt (46' Goretzka), Davies (Krätzig 75') - Pavlovic (Aznou 78'), Guerreiro (Aséko 67') - Sané (Tel 67'), Müller (46' Coman), Musiala (Zvonarek 67') - Kane (Choupo-Moting 46')
Unused sub: Hennig
Out: Gnabry (muscular), Kim (Asian Cup), Mazraoui (AFCON), Peretz (knee), Sarr (knee)
Coach: Thomas Tuchel
As it happened:
Looks like this will end a draw unless we have some late drama.
And Bayern have a corner...
Aséko has a go from the edge of the box again and Bayern win yet another corner but they can't find a way through. The visitors really having a go at the death.
Zvonarek thinks he has Bayern in front but his curling effort strikes the post and rebounds to safety. He's looked lively since coming off the bench, as have Tel and Aséko. Bayern's future looking very bright.
A series of changes for both sides take us into the final 10 minutes. Can a now youthful Bayern side grab a winner?
It didn't take long for the substitutes to make an impact and it's the youngsters, Zvonarek and Aseko, who help haul Bayern level. Zvonarek almost scores himself and wins a corner with a great piece of skill before Aséko strikes home from the edge of the box. It took a deflection on the way through but Aséko won't care, it's his first goal for the seniors.
Barry is in behind Bayern as Goretzka is caught out but Ulreich races off his line and denies the Basel forward. It was one-v-one, but Ulreich came out on top and, moments later, he has to again rush out to beat Barry to the ball.
Bayern are looking sluggish in this second-half and another Schmid cross finds Akalé but his head lands safely wide. He was free in the Bayern box there.
Bayern have been so dominant, but it's Basel who take the lead. Gauto, on as a sub, is the man who breaks the deadlock, lifting the ball over Ulreich and into the roof of the net. A lovely finish and Bayern need to up their game.
The hosts, meanwhile, have made five changes for the second half and, thus far, it's working. They've made a much better start since the break.
Tuchel reaches to the bench at half-time with Ulreich, Coman and Goretzka all coming on. The first two are straightforward, while the latter sees Goretzka take up an unfamiliar position at centre-half.
No breakthrough during that first period which was dominated almost entirely by Bayern. Despite that, Basel actually had the best chance to open the scoring and we go into the turnaround still at 0-0.
The best chance of the game falls to new Basel man Kololli, who has a free shot on goal in a similar position to Kane earlier but his effort is tame and Neuer saves comfortably.
A wonderful piece of skill and close control from Musiala almost gets him and Müller free but Basel remain stubborn. Bayern keep applying pressure, Basel keep standing firm.
The Canadian flier has made a good start here and is causing a lot of problems out wide. Bayern are having to be patient and Davies is helping them to get in behind their hosts who, largely, have all 11-men behind the ball.
Davies does superbly down the left and cuts back to Kane, who's free on the left of the box about 15-yards out, but places wide of the near post. You expected the back of the net to ripple there.
An old rivalry resumed as Müller gets behind Basel's defence and fires across goal but Hitz saves well down to his right. First real opening at either end.
The hosts suddenly come to life with Veiga nutmegging Müller on the halfway line and then Schmid getting the better of Kimmich out-wide. Nothing comes from it but much better from the hosts.
A fine Kimmich free-kick out on the right causes panic and Upamecano nearly sneaks in at the back post but is denied. Bayern are bossing their hosts here, with Basel struggling to get out of their own half.
The Germany international is indeed lining up on the right of defence but is seeing plenty of the ball high up the pitch as Bayern dominate the early stages. Kimmich has a crossing opportunity from high and wide but it, similarly, sails high and wide over the bar.
It's a first sight of goal for Kane and he nearly catches Hitz off guard with a delicate chip from wide right but the Swiss 'keeper tips it over just as it looks like Kane will find the far corner. Sharp start from Bayern.
Bayern, playing in all-white, get us underway...