Gnabry fires Bayern past Marseille in Champions League warm-up

Bayern 1-0 Marseille
Goals: 1-0 Gnabry (20')

Bayern coach Flick named a strong starting XI to take on Marseille at the club’s training facility and moved Joshua Kimmich to right-back, with Thiago Alcantara slotting into midfield as a result of Benjamin Pavard’s injury. Bayern immediately exerted their control on the game against a side that hasn’t played competitive football since March due to the postponement of the French Ligue 1 season and the Bundesliga champions took the lead on 20 minutes. Germany international Gnabry broke the deadlock in stunning fashion, as he waltzed into the Marseille box and put two defenders on their backsides before he stabbed the ball past Steve Mandanda.

Philippe Coutinho, Lucas Hernandez and Corentin Tolisso were all introduced at the break and the latter almost doubled Bayern just four minutes after the break but could only fire over from five yards. Coutinho also went close but his curling effort from the edge of the box flashed just wide of the post. Bayern continued to dominate possession but Marseille were hard to break down as both sides made sweeping second half changes to their sides. One of which saw a very welcome return to first team action for Niklas Süle and the Germany centre-back managed just over half an hour in his first Bayern run-out since 19 October, 2019. That will have delighted Flick as much as the result as his side got their Champions League preparations off to the perfect start.

• Bright Arrey-Mbi, who has been included in Bayern's Champions League squad for the upcoming 'final 8' tournament, made his first senior appearance as a second half substitute.
• Süle's introduction saw him play for the first time in 285 days, following his injury on Matchday 8 of 2019/20 in the 2-2 draw with Augsburg.
• Gnabry's goal means he has scored in his last two appearances, having also found the back of the net against Bayern Leverkusen in the DFB Cup final.
• Among the players to have appeared for both clubs is Franck Ribery, who joined Bayern from Marseille in 2007. He won nine Bundesliga titles with Bayern.
• Marseille full-back Hiroki Sakai played 92 Bundesliga games between 2012 and 2016 for Hannover; he faced Bayern four times, losing on each occasion.
• Second-half sub Leonardo Balerdi was making his first Marseille appearance since joining the club on-loan from Borussia Dortmund.

Bayern: Neuer (c) (Ulreich 61') - Kimmich (Odriozola 61'), Boateng (Süle 61'), Alaba (Hernandez 46'), Davies (Arrey-Mbi 61') - Goretzka (Tolisso 46'), Thiago (Martinez 61') - Gnabry (Cuisance 61'), Müller (Coutinho 46'), Perisic (Coman 46') - Lewandowski (Zirkzee 72')
Unused subs: Singh, Tillman
Out: Arp (not included), Pavard (ankle), Richards (personal reasons)
Coach: Hansi Flick

Marseille: Mandanda (c) - Sarr (Sakai 46'), Gonzalez (Perrin 88'), Caleta-Car (Balerdi 64'), Amavi (Khaoui 80') - Rongier (Strootman 61'), Kamara (Lopez 80'), Sanson (Gueye 80') - Thauvin (Ake 61'), Benedetto (Germain 61'), Payet (Radonjic 61')
Unused subs: Pele, Ngapandouetnbu, Mohamed, Chabrolle
Out: -
Coach: Andre Villas-Boas

Watch: Bayern's 2019/20 Bundesliga title journey

Bayern 1-0 Marseille
Goals: 1-0 Gnabry (20')

Bayern: Neuer (c) (Ulreich 61') - Kimmich (Odriozola 61'), Boateng (Süle 61'), Alaba (Hernandez 46'), Davies (Arrey-Mbi 61') - Goretzka (Tolisso 46'), Thiago (Martinez 61') - Gnabry (Coman 61'), Müller (Coutinho 46'), Perisic - Lewandowski (Zirkzee 73')
Marseille: Mandanda (c) - Sarr (Sakai 80'), Gonzalez, Caleta-Car (Balerdi 64'), Amavi (Khaoui 80') - Rongier (Gueye 80'), Kamara (Lopez 80'), Sanson (Strotman 80') - Thauvin (Germain 80'), Benedetto (Ake 80'), Payet (Radonjic 80')

JOB DONE FOR BAYERN

Bayern dominated proceedings in Munich and Flick will be pleased that his players got their Champions League preparations off to such a solid start. The sight of Süle back on the field for the first time since last October will also be a hugely welcome one. Thanks for joining us and you can find out when Bayern are next in action, over here.

90+1' FULL-TIME WHISTLE

It's all over at the FC Bayern Campus as the Bundesliga champions pick up the win courtesy of Gnabry's super first half goal.

88' GOOD INTERVENTION

Zirkzee is waiting to tap home Coman's square across the face of goal but Balerdi does superbly to deny the Dutchman a tap-in. Couple of minutes to go.

83' AMBITIOUS EFFORT

Well this is lively. Young Marseille man Ake has a go from just inside the Bayern half but Ulreich isn't going to be caught off guard and collects. Would've been some goal.

78' GOOD BLOCK

Perisic cuts inside on his left foot just inside the Marseille box but his effort is blocked and goes out for a corner.

73' INTERESTED OBSERVER

There are some famous faces in the stands here with Oliver Khan and new coach Miroslav Klöse watching on but it's another man who really stands out: Leroy Sane. The new Bayern signing isn't taking part in these games so the registered Champions League players can prepare fully for Chelsea but he's keenly taking in his new teammates' performance.

71' DRINKS BREAK

Time for one final wetting of the whistle. Looks like Zirkzee will be coming on for Lewandowski when we return too.

69' A FAMILIAR FACE

Marseille made a change of their own in amongst all the excitement, with Borussia Dortmund defender Leonardo Balerdi coming on at centre-back after joining the French side on-loan earlier this month.

66' SETTLED IN

Even with those changes, Bayern are still well on top and continue to boss possession.

61' A RAFT OF CHANGES

There's a procession on the sideline as Bayern make a series of subs, one of which sees Süle make his return to the team. Very nice to see.

56' COUTINHO GOES CLOSE

A lovely turn on the edge of the box from the Brazilian who curls the ball towards goal but his effort is narrowly wide. A great effort and nearly a moment of magic out of nothing.

55' WARMING UP AGAIN

It's taken both sides a little bit of time to get back into it in the second half but they're both warming up now. Marseille have seen more of the ball but Bayern still look the more potent as Lewandowski volleys over a difficult chance.

49' SHOULD BE TWO

Tolisso has a golden opportunity to double Bayern's lead but he fires over from just five yards out as he meets an inviting corner. Should've scored.

46' THREE BAYERN CHANGES

Flick has made a trio of substitutions at half-time as Hernandez replaces Alaba at centre-half, Tolisso is on for Goretzka and Coutinho comes in for Müller.

46' SECOND HALF UNDERWAY

After a pretty long break we're back up and running at the FC Bayern Campus...

IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE

That was a very good half from Bayern who were in complete control from the off. Marseille have a lot of men behind the ball so are proving hard to break down but Gnabry's lovely effort means Bayern are 1-0 up at the break.

45+1' HALF-TIME

Bayern go into the break 1-0 up thanks to Gnabry's goal which you can see in all its glory in the tweet below.

44' BIG CHANCE!

Davies is through on goal but fires straight at the legs of Mandanda. Kimmich almost forces the follow-up home but it's a tight angle and the ball goes out of play. Almost two.

43' ARE BAYERN PLAYING WITH 12?

No, of course not. That would be silly. But Bayern have a man over so often that it give the impression that they have an extra player on the pitch.

40' PIERCING BALL

Is there a better launchpad than Boateng? The Bayern man shows just how good his passing is as he arrows one that travels more than 20 yards all along the deck and splits Marseille's midfield. Nothing comes of it but that was exceptional from Boateng.

36' JUST OUT OF REACH

Gnabry is on the overlap on the right this time and he flashes an inviting cross across goal but Perisic can't quite meet it at the back post.

32' NICELY WORKED

Bayern switch it from right to left and back again to get Kimmich beyond Amavi but his cross is slightly overhit and can't find Lewandowski. Bayern moving the ball very nicely and, importantly, quickly as they try to break the visitors down.

28' BACK UNDERWAY

Bayern on the ball again...

25' DRINKS BREAK

A much needed swig of water to catch our breath.

23' BAYERN IN CONTROL

That goal was richly deserved on balance and it seems to have reaffirmed Bayern's belief. They're bossing possession and starting to get in behind Marseille more regularly.

20' GOAL! 1-0 BAYERN!

Take a bow, Serge Gnabry. A stunning opener from the Germany international who waltzes beyond the Marseille defence and sits a defender on his backside before prodding past Mandanda. Superb goal.

17' NO TIME TO BE FRIENDLY 

You did wonder if these two teams would go into exhibition mode but far from it. This is being played like a competitive fixture with some robust tackles already going in. Good to see.

14' RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME

Out of nowhere, Marseille break and have a man over on the right but Davies makes a crucial intervention. Great work from the Canada international, proving once again why he's so invaluable in his new left-back role.

12' PERFECT PRESS

This is excellent from Bayern and Müller in particular as they harass Mandanda into a mistake with an incessant high press. The 'keeper is forced into a misplaced pass that goes out for a Bayern throw and although nothing comes of it, that was great work from the hosts.

10' STILL NO SHOTS

Bayern continue to push Marseille further and further back into their own half but they can't quite carve out anything clear cut. That man Lewandowski is yet to get a sniff, but that could be an ominous sign for the French side...

6' KIMMICH RIGHT AT HOME

We noted at the start that Kimmich has reverted to right-back here and he's slotted in comfortably thus far with Bayern's most threatening forays coming as Kimmich pushes forward on the right.

3' BRIGHT START

The hosts have started well so far and Bayern have barely given up possession. Camped in the Marseille half, their pressure has resulted in two corners already but no chances of note in front of goal just yet.

1' KICK-OFF!

We're up and running...

STUNNING DAY

It's an absolute belter of a day in Munich, the sun is shining and there's barely a cloud in the sky. It could be a hot one for the players - a consequence of this elongated season - but they can have few other complaints, especially of their surrounds. This Bayern training facility is impeccable.

FRUITFUL CONNECTION

These two teams have a storied link with some famous names playing for both sides (see below and in more detail here), while Bayern legend Franz Beckenbauer coached both sides and current Bayern defender Lucas Hernandez was born in the French port city while his father, Jean-Francois, was playing for the Ligue 1 outfit.

• Alou Diarra: Bayern 2000-02 (0 first-team appearances), Marseille 2011/12
• Luiz Gustavo: Bayern Jan. 2011-13, Marseille 2017-19
• Bixente Lizarazu: Bayern 1997-2004 & Jan. 2005-06, Marseille 2004
• Jean-Pierre Papin: Marseille 1986-92, Bayern 1994-96
• Franck Ribery: Marseille 2005-07, Bayern 2007-19
• Daniel Van Buyten: Marseille 2001-04, Bayern 2006-14

A WORD ON THE VISITORS

While Bayern sealed the Bundesliga trophy when football returned to Germany this summer, it's worth noting that Marseille haven't played since March after Ligue 1 was postponed after 28 matchdays due to coronavirus. Marseille had been in good form and lost just one of their last 17 (W12, D4) before their league was curtailed and were second.

A STRONG BAYERN SIDE

It's safe to say Flick has picked a very strong looking Bayern team and could that give us some insight into how they might shape up in the Champions League? The biggest talking point is Kimmich's move back into the right-side of the Bayern defence in place of the injured Pavard. That sees Thiago come into midfield alongside Goretzka and, at least for now, answers a recent question of ours.

MARSEILLE SUBS

Pele, Ngapandouetnbu, Balerdi, Sakai, Mohamed, Perrin, Khaoui, Gueye, Lopez, Strootman, Chabrolle, Radonjic, Ake, Germain

BAYERN SUBS

Ulreich, Odriozola, Süle, Martínez, Coutinho, Cuisance, Hernandez, Tolisso, Singh, Coman, Zirkzee, Tillman, Arrey Mbi

MARSEILLE TEAM

Mandanda (c) - Sarr, Gonzalez, Caleta-Car, Amavi - Rongier, Kamara, Sanson - Thauvin, Benedetto, Payet

BAYERN TEAM

Neuer (c) - Kimmich, Boateng, Alaba, Davies - Goretzka, Thiago - Gnabry, Müller, Perisic - Lewandowski

THE TEAMS...

We'll get stuck right in with the team news from Bavaria...

WELCOME TO BAYERN vs. MARSEILLE

A very good morning, day or evening to you wherever you are in the world and welcome along to our live coverage of Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich's friendly with French Ligue 1 outfit Marseille from Bayern's training centre. This kicks-off the club's Audi Digital Summer Tour and also serves as preparation for their upcoming UEFA Champions League last 16 second leg against Chelsea.