Bundesliga
Bayern Munich have arrived back in Germany after a brilliant tour of South Korea that saw them experience the local culture and beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in a friendly.
The record champions were in Korea from July 31 to August 5, expereincing the local culture of defender and home hero Minjae Kim.
Ahead of the trip Bayern's squad was dramatically boosted by the return of Germany internationals Thomas Müller, Jamal Musiala, Joshua Kimmich and Manuel Neuer. The day before departing they also announced the arrival of defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha, with the Portugal regular joining from Premier League side Fulham and heading off to Korea with his new teammates.
There, Bayern got to experience Seoul from the top of the Fairmont Ambassador Hotel, while some players ventured out into the town centre to try out local streetfood like ramen noodles and bubble tea.
Watch: Bayern arrive and train in Seoul
Having trained at the Goyang Stadium, they then got down to the important business of their third match of pre-season, taking on Tottenham at the Seoul World Cup Stadium. Goals from Gabriel Vidović and Leon Goretzka sealed a 2-1 win for Bayern, who left the country filled with positivity.
Speaking at the conclusion of the trip, sporting director Max Eberl said: "It has been the most successful tour FC Bayern's ever had, from a merchandising point of view but particularly because the club has overall developed and set new standards in this area with every tour."
Watch: Bayern Munich 14-1 FC Rottach-Egern
Execitive vice chairman Michael Diederich added: "The feedback from Asia confirms once again that FC Bayern engages authentically with the people and issues in the respective regions, and this is appreciated. We establish and deepen lasting contacts in sport, business, society and politics. The club has left behind an excellent calling card."
It is the second time in as many years that Bayern have visited Asia, following last summer's trip to Japan and Singapore. They also stopped off in China and Singapore in 2017, but this is the club's first visit to South Korea.
>>> See where other clubs are touring this summer
Recap the tour as it happened:
Bayern have returned home after a successful tour which saw the return of a number of first team stars, a win over Tottenham Hotspur, and an amazing time enjoying South Korea.
“You could already see a certain thumbprint. I think it was nice for the spectators too, it went back and forth. Both teams played attacking football and pressed one-on-one. I’m very hungry for the new season and we have ambitious goals together.”
“Today’s match was very intense. The intensity is always high in clashes with Tottenham but our plan worked very well. We should’ve led by more at half-time. Overall we feel good. Considering that many players resumed training just a few days ago and then we go and produce a first half like that, I’m satisfied. So may it continue."
Goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer was equally pleased by the team's performance against the Premier League side, saying: "We got off to a good start, we put Tottenham under pressure early on and allowed them little. We created many chances by winning the ball high up the pitch. It’s just fun to see the team reward themselves for the hard work. We turned in a very good display in the first half in particular.”
Following an impressive win over Tottenham in Seoul, coach Vincent Kompany was pleased by the mentality shown by his side, as he told the official club website: "We made a lot of substitutions and the boys created a lot of chances – that was a sign of strong mentality." Thomas Müller agreed with his new manager, saying: "Our plan worked very well. We should've led by more at half-time. Overall we feel good."
Kompany's side come away with the win and it's just about deserved on the balance of play. Bayern were by far the better side in the first half and created a number of clear-cut chances, but only held a 1-0 lead at the break thanks to Vidović's early strike. Goretzka added a second early in the second half, but a much-improved Tottenham side pulled a goal back through a Porro stunner.
The stocky winger receives possession all on his own, wide on the left. He immediately sprints forward into space and as he has no support in the box, he goes for goal himself, producing a fine save from Vicario.
Spurs are trying to grab an equaliser in the closing minutes and are committing plenty of players forward to that end. Bayern are holding firm though.
After a brief drinks break, Bayern are keeping possession well. That will come as a relief to Kompany, as Tottenham had been gaining momentum prior to that.
Tottenham push everyone forward as they seek an equaliser, allowing Bayern a chance on the counter. Laimer plays it forward to Zaragoza, sprinting forward from the halfway line. If he can control the ball he'll only have the goalkeeper to beat, but he can't quite take it in his stride and a defender gets back to clear the danger.
Porro is given time and space to line up a shot, but he's still 30 yards out and off to the right, so there appears to be no imminent danger. However, his shot is so well struck that it leaves Ulreich no chance as it whizzes into the top corner. Game on!
Son gets forward at pace and sends a perfectly weighted pass through for Sarr. He only has Ulreich to beat, but the Bayern goalkeeper produces a brilliant save to keep it out.
Tel, who has been lively all game, drives forward down the left. Zaragoza peels away to his left, taking a defender with him and allowing Tel to cut inside. He spies Goretzka arriving in the box and slides a pass into him. Goretzka's first effort is saved by Vicario, but the midfielder is alert and tucks in the rebound from close range,
Stanišić plays a delightful through-ball for Zaragoza to chase. He darts into the box on the right and gets a shot away, aiming for the far post, but Vicario saves well.
Ulreich is on for Neuer, with Bryan, Palhinha, Laimer, Goretzka and Ličina all taking to the pitch as well. Kimmich, Gnabry, Vidović, Pavlović and Müller have gone off.
Having been largely outplayed for most of the first half, Tottenham immediately try to restore parity, Kulusevski sending a low effort on the spin just wide.
Bayern get the action under way again!
Nice approach play from Guerreiro and Vidović down the left before a cross is swung over to the right, finding Tel. His first touch is a little bit heavy, meaning he has to rush his finish - and can only prod wide.
Some neat, first-time passing from Bayern in tight spaces in the Tottenham area. The ball eventually comes to Gnabry, on the right, and his curling left-footed shot rolls just the wrong side of the far post.
Vidović flicks a pass with the outside of his right boot to Tel, on the left. He drops a shoulder, jinks inside and shoots, aiming for the top corner at the far post. He's not far off, with the ball fizzing just wide.
It's a three-on-three break with Müller leading the charge before slipping a pass forward to Tel on his left. He looks up and tries to find Vidović at the back post, but Son sprints back to clear just in time.
Bayern break forward well down the right. Boey pulls the ball back into the middle, and Kimmich's dummy affords Gnabry some extra time and space to shoot, but his left-footed effort is deflected and loops over the bar.
Kimmich whips in a cross from the right to Kim, in the centre of the penalty box. He guides a header goalwards but it goes just over the bar.
Müller spreads the ball wide to the left as Bayern break forward, finding Tel. The French youngster jinks his way to the edge of the penalty area before cutting inside onto his right foot and unleashing a powerful drive at goal that Vicario does well to save.
The Bayern right-back sprints back to make up ground on Son, who had peeled away behind him to collect a long ball. The Tottenham forward was flagged for offside in the end, but it was still a great show of determination from Boey.
The English side get forward on the break and go three-on-three. They work it to the left to Kulusevski, who twists and turns to create space, but Stanišić does well to keep his eye on the ball and make a vital block.
Cutting in from the left unchallenged, Son has time and space to line up an effort at goal. It'll take something special to beat Manuel Neuer from that distance, and Son's effort is wayward, sailing high and wide of the target.
An early advantage for Kompany's side! Tottenham try to play out from the back but Gnabry is alert and pounces on the ball out from Vicario. His attempted pass to Tel is intercepted but the ball bobbles up to youngster Vidović, who chests it down and prods the ball through the goalkeeper's legs and into the net.
Müller floats a lovely ball over the Spurs defence from the left, aiming for Gnabry arriving at the back post. He gets there ahead of his marker but can't keep his first-time effort down and it goes just over.
And we're off as Tottenham get the ball rolling in Seoul.