Bundesliga
Bayern Munich’s first game back since the World Cup was a lively one, as they drew 4-4 with Austrian neighbours Red Bull Salzburg in a highly frenzied friendly match.
Bayern Munich 4-4 Red Bull Salzburg
Goals: 1-0 Sane (9’), 1-1 Koita (17’), 1-2 Konate (51‘), 1-3 Okafor (54‘), 2-3 Ibrahimovic (69‘), 3-3 Coman (71’), 4-3 Tel (88‘), 4-4 Okafor (89’)
Bayern had won their last 10 games in all competitions before the World Cup winter break, and in their first game back, taking on European neighbours RB Salzburg, the Bavarians were in no mood to let their standards slip. Beginning the game firmly on the front foot, it was the hosts who raced out of the blocks at the Bayern Campus in northern Munich. Julian Nagelsmann's chargers were relentless in their attacking patterns, seemingly unaffected by having not played for a significant period and took the lead after just nine minutes on the clock. Ryan Gravenberch’s fine pass found Leroy Sane, with the Germany international taking a couple of touches before expertly bending the ball into the top left corner, just beyond Philipp Köhn’s reach. Salzburg managed to equalise shortly afterwards though following a fine counter-attacking move when Sedou Koita found himself one-on-one with Sven Ulreic and coolly finishing past the Bayern keeper. The home side continued to pile on the pressure, but to no avail, with usually reliable finishers spurning a whole host of chances.
Instead, it was Salzburg that took a surprise lead in the second half. After substitute Samson Baidoo’s header clattered the Bayern bar, the ball splurged out to fellow replacement Karim Konate, who tucked away nicely. Moments later, Salzburg doubled their advantage, this time through Noah Okafor who sent a rocket past Ulreich. Despite that quick-fire setback, Bayern soon rallied themselves. Arijon Ibrahimovic pulled one back for his team, with the youngster firing a lovely strike into the bottom left-hand corner of the net to make it 3-2. Continuing to pile on the pressure, the equaliser duly came. Mathys Tel pulled back on the edge of the box to fellow Frenchman Kingsley Coman to finish with aplomb. Tel thought he’d won it late on by putting Bayern 4-3 in front, but Okafor had other ideas, netting his second of the evening to earn his side a well-deserved draw.
Teams
Bayern: Ulreich (Schenk 63’) – Stanisic (Wanner 63’), Pavard (Zvonarek 63’), Upamecano (Blind 63’), Davies (Buchmann 63’) – Kimmich, Gravenberch (Tel 63’) – Gnabry (Coman 63’), Musiala (Ibrahimovic 63’), Sane (Kabadayi 63’) – Müller (Sabitzer 63’)
Unused subs: -
Out: Choupo-Moting (unwell), De Ligt (ankle), Goretzka (rested), Hernandez (ACL), Mane (leg), Mazraoui (heart inflammation), Neuer (leg fracture), Sarr (knee)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
Salzburg: Köhn – Van der Brempt (Dedic 46’) , Pavlovic (Baidoo 46’), Onguene (Solet 46’), Bernardo (Ibertsberger 46’) – Hofer (Kjaergaard 46’), Seiwald (Gourna-Duath 46’) – Kameri (Konate 46’), Sucic (Forson 46’) – Koita (Adamu 46’), Sesko (Okafor 46’)
Unused subs: Stejskal, Gevorgyan, Agyekum
Out: -
Coach: Matthias Jaissle
As it happened!
Bayern have a chance to win it in the final seconds, but Zvonarek's header is remarkably saved by Köhn! 4-4. What a game.
Mathys Tel thought he'd won it right at the death! But Salzburg had other ideas! That might be the quickest response to a goal you'll ever see, and that pretty much sums it all up. Tel finishes expertedly, but so does Okafor seconds later for his second of the game!
Both sides have been so friendly to their opposition, gifting them an array of goals on a number of occassions. But that's to be expected. It's a friendly match after all, rustiness is always going to be apparant. Bayern haven't played in months, whilst Salzburg also return to domestic action next week.
We're entering the final stages of a truly frantic affair. With goals aplenty, there might just be another. A winner for either side here will give whoever gets it a huge confidence boost going in to their domestic league fixtures next week.
Bayern are looking the more likely to find a winner. Sabitzer and Coman have additional chances to fire their side into a late lead. So far though, it hasn't come.
The second half has duly seen completely different line-ups take to the field for both sides. Though since Bayern made their changes, they've scored twice. That certainly bodes well for next week's Bundesliga return, as it proves their first-team stars have well and truly still got it.
The goals in this game seem to be arriving in clusters. Salzburg had earlier scored twice in a matter of minutes, and now Bayern have repeated the feat. The defences are looking slightly frail at times, but that's what a friendly match is all about.
Mathys Tel finds himself in acres of space down the right flank, before the young Frenchman pulls the ball back across goal to find his fellow countryman Kingsley Coman. Bayern have repeated what Salzburg inflicted on them! Two goals in just two minutes has levelled things up here. With just twenty minutes to go, will there now be a winner?
Arijon Ibrahimović scores for Bayern! As he closes in on goal with the Salzburg defenders retreating, Ibrahimović fires a lovely strike into the bottom left corner of the goal. Bayern are still managing to create good chances here. Don't for one second think they're dead and buried here.
Daley Blind enters the fray for what is his first Bayern appearance. He is joined on the pitch by Coman, Tel, Schenk, Kabadayi, Sabitzer, Zvonarek, Buchmann, Wanner, and Ibrahimovic. No, not that one. Kimmich becomes the captain. Davies, Müller, Musiala, Stanisic, Sane, Upamecano, Pavard, Ulreich, Gravenberch, and Gnabry make way. Completely different Bayern team now on the pitch.
The visitors make a raft of changes. Kjaergaard, Gourna-Douath, Baidoo, Adamu, Amankwah, Solet, Okafor, and Ibertsberger come on.
Well who saw that coming? For all of Bayern's possession-based dominance, it's the visitors who score twice in a matter of minutes. How will Bayern respond now?
A glorious opportunity to pull one back immediately. But Kimmich's effort sails just wide of the right-hand post. The onlooking Köhn was certainly beaten.
Salzburg extend their lead! This time the ball falls very kindly to Noah Okafor who sends a rocket past Sven Ulreich! What on earth is happening here? Just nine minutes into the second half and Bayern find themselves two goals down.
Against the run of play once more! Subsitute Samson Baidoo's header rattles the bar, before the ball splurges out into the feet of Karim Konate who fires home. For all of Bayern's chances, they now trail.
Jamal Musiala travels a long way with the ball, before presenting it to Serge Gnabry on the left-hand side of the box. Gnabry is unable to take a precise touch and the ball simply rolls out for a goal kick instead. Not the greatest start from Bayern, but they remain the dominant side.
The second half gets underway here on a chilly night in Munich.
Level it remains. Both sides go into the break having scored one apiece. Stay tuned for what promises to be another lively half!
In a half with chances aplenty, it seems strange that it remains 1-1. Will either side take the lead before the break? Bayern certainly seem the more likely team at this stage, but Salzburg have already scored against the run of play once this evening.
Salzburg know the'yre under pressure here. The Austrians appear to be quite content with sitting back, absorbing the pressure, and allowing Bayern the majority of the ball. Whilst that hasn't always proved particularly fruitful with Bayern having created a raft of chances, Salzburg themselves are managing to conjure up counter-attacking opportunities of their own.
All the chances are falling to Bayern at the moment. Musiala is able to jink his way past a number of Salzburg defenders, before sublimely laying the ball off to goalscorer Sane on the edge of the box. The right-sided player is able to take a touch placing the ball onto his preferred left. But he's unable to hit the target, blasting wildly over the bar.
Canada international Alphonso Davies takes his turn with a chance for Bayern. But the left-back can only strike the ball firmly at Philipp Köhn, forcing an early save. Whilst Bayern have certainly dominated the chances, Köhn has not been truly tested.
Serge Gnabry puts in a wonderful cross, expectant that one of his team mates will be on the end of it. Though it's expertly cleared away from the Salzburg defence, and another chance goes begging for Bayern. Will they retake the lead before the break?
Both Julian Nagelsmann and Matthias Jaissle hail from the same school when it comes to footballing philosophy. Both sides are looking to neatly build out their attacking plays from the back, with expert on-ball qualities being shown here.
Speaking of the devil! Jamal Musiala has a great opportunity to restore his side's lead. But a lack of precision in front of goal proves his undoing, sending the ball comfortably wide of Salzburg's right post.
It's Leroy Sane causing a nuisance once more. This time his powerful strike stings the palms of the Salzburg goalkeeper Philipp Köhn, who calmly parries it away for a corner.
Salzburg's leveller has slightly taken the sting out of the game. It's reverted to both sides trading possession. Although Bayern are starting to get going again...
Having absorbed huge swathes of pressure in the opening phases, it's the Austrians who have levelled things up! Salzburg striker Sekou Koita is exquisitely played through directly on goal, before the Mali international coolly dispatches past Sven Ulreich. 1-1!
Having started the game in a rather relentless manner, Salzburg appear to have stemmed the tide, enjoying a little bit more possession.
It's all Bayern here at the minute. The Bavarians are enjoying a lot of the ball, and Salzburg are struggling to cope.
It didn't take them long. Joshua Kimmich is enjoying a lot of the ball, with his midfield partner Ryan Gravenberch also getting in on the act. Having sprayed the ball out wide to Leroy Sane on the right-hand side, the Germany international curls one into the top left corner of the Salzburg goal. The Salzburg keeper gets a palm to it, but it's not strong enough. Bayern are flexing their muscles now and ultimately lead 1-0.
After some intricate build-up play, Serge Gnabry finds himself in a large amount of space out wide on the left. However, the Germany international overhits his cross, giving the visitors a goal kick. Bayern just beginning to find their rhythm now.
It's a cold evening here in Munich as both teams look to settle into the game. The opposing sides trade possession in the opening stages.
And we're off. Tonight's Austro-German friendly between Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig gets underway. It's Friday 13th, but here's hoping nobody's luck is out tonight.
We're all set to go here in Munich. This evening's game is being played at the club's training campus, the premises in which the Under-17s, Under-19s, and women's team all ply their trade. The teams are in the tunnel.
Dutch international Daley Blind is likely to make his first appearance for Bayern this evening, having joined the club last week from Ajax. Blind starts the game on the bench, though it's presumed Nagelsmann will be looking to rotate players and formations tonight, as the squad rekindle their chemistry after not having played with each other for months.
Köhn – Van der Brempt, Pavlovic, Onguene, Bernardo – Hofer, Seiwald – Kameri, Sucic – Koita, Sesko
Stejskal, Baidoo, Adamu, Kjaergaard, Konate, Solet, Gourna-Duath, Forson, Agyekum, Ibertsberger, Dedic, Okafor, Gevorgyan
Ulreich – Stanisic, Pavard, Upamecano, Davies – Kimmich, Gravenberch – Gnabry, Musiala, Sane
Müller, Schenk, Coman, Wanner, Sabitzer, Blind, Tel, Buchmann, Ibrahimovic, Zvonarek, Kabadayi
Lucas Hernandez and Manuel Neuer miss out due to long-term injuries, while head coach Julian Nagelsmann has also confirmed that Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt will sit out as a precautionary measure. Sadio Mane, Noussair Mazraoui, and Bouna Sarr are also unavailable, with the likes of Alphonso Davies, Jamal Musiala, and Joshua Kimmich all expected to feature.