Bayern win Telekom Cup on Davies debut

After Bayern won their semi-final against hosts Fortuna Düsseldorf on penalties, Niko Kovac used the occasion to hand 18-year-old Davies his senior debut in the final.

Gladbach, who got the better of Hertha Berlin in their 45-minute semi-final courtesy of a Thorgan Hazard thunderbolt, could have won the contest in normal time, but had to settle for silver after Patrick Herrmann and Denis Zakaria fluffed their lines in the decisive shootout.

It is the fifth time Bayern have won the Telekom Cup - a competition record.

Düsseldorf took bronze after beating Hertha 3-1 in the third-place match.

Results

Semi-final 1: Fortuna Düsseldorf 0-0 Bayern Munich (Bayern won 8-7 on pens.)

Semi-final 2: Borussia Mönchengladbach 1-0 Hertha Berlin (1-0 Hazard 4')

Third-place match: Fortuna Düsseldorf 3-1 Hertha Berlin (0-1 Köpke 5', 1-1 Karaman 11', 2-1 Ducksch (pen. 23'), 3-1 Ducksch (32')

Final: Bayern Munich 0-0 Borussia Mönchengladbach (Bayern won 4-2 on pens.)

Watch: Mats Hummels' Panenka penalty won the Telekom Cup for Bayern

1) The first of many for Davies

MLS debut at 15, Canada debut at 16, Bayern debut at 18. Davies played the full 45 minutes of the Telekom Cup final, taking his first-team bow just under two weeks after officially joining the club.

The Canadian winger lined up on the right-hand side of the Bayern attack, and showed some real moments of promise, not least in the final minute of the contest when he might consider himself unfortunate not to have been awarded a penalty after outdoing Gladbach's Andreas Poulsen for pace on his way into the opposition area.

Just as Kovac promised, "Bayern will not hold Davies back."

2) Coman the Bavarian is back

Kingsley Coman made five Bundesliga appearances in December after recovering from a serious ankle injury sustained on the opening weekend of the 2018/19 season.

With a full warm weather training camp behind him, the French winger was handed the keys to Bayern's left flank in the semi-final against Düsseldorf, and looked back to his very best for large spells of the game. He tormented Düsseldorf right-back Matthias Zimmermann, creating all manner of chances, before keeping his head to score in the penalty shoot-out.

Suffice to say a fully fit Coman can only be good news for Bayern.

3) Lukas Mai throws his hat into the ring

Bayern recently announced a deal to bring French World Cup winner Benjamin Pavard to the Allianz Arena from VfB Stuttgart in the summer.

Pavard, 22 is seen as Niklas Süle's long-term partner at the heart of the defence, but he could face competition from up-and-coming academy player Lukas Mai.

The 18-year-old made his Bundesliga debut towards the end of last season, and put in another composed showing against Fortuna. More first-team opportunities are a given...

4) Fortuna favours the brave

Fortuna did the unthinkable in coming back to draw 3-3 with Bayern in the Bundesliga earlier this season, and they more than held their own for large periods of their Telekom Cup semi-final clash.

Watford loanee Dodi Lukebakio, scorer of a hat-trick on that famous November day in Munich, put in another eye-catching shift for a Fortuna side now unbeaten in their last four games against Bundesliga opposition.

Bad news for upcoming opponents Augsburg, who are without a win in their last nine Bundesliga outings.

5) Hazard can't stop scoring

If Gladbach's win over Hertha had been a competitive Bundesliga match, we might have been looking at a Goal of the Season candidate from the irrepressible Hazard.

Picking the ball up on the left-hand side of the Hertha area, the Belgian cut inside and thundered a vitriolic strike off the underside of the crossbar to settle matters just four minutes in. He was conspicuous by his absence as coach Dieter Hecking rang the changes for the final, but Gladbach have bigger fish to fry.

The creative heartbeat of a swashbuckling Borussia team in the hunt for a top-four finish, expect Hazard's current tally of nine goals and seven assists to swell during the second half of 2018/19.

Watch: Thorgan Hazard's Telekom Cup wonder goal

BAYERN WIN THE 2019 TELEKOM CUP!

Bayern win a record fifth Telekom Cup! The previous four times, they've gone on to win the Bundesliga. Just saying...

PENALTIES: BAYERN 4-2 GLADBACH: HUMMELS SCORES!

Panenka?! Outrageous!

PENALTIES: BAYERN 3-2 GLADBACH: ZAKARIA MISSES!

Off the post!

PENALTIES: BAYERN 3-2 GLADBACH: GORETZKA SCORES!

PENALTIES: BAYERN 2-2 GLADBACH: STROBL SCORES!

PENALTIES: BAYERN 2-1 GLADBACH: THIAGO SCORES!

PENALTIES: BAYERN 1-1 GLADBACH: WAGNER MISSES!

Nicolas Moritz brings Gladbach back level after saving from Sandro Wagner.

PENALTIES: BAYERN 1-1 GLADBACH: DRMIC SCORES!

Josip Drmic drives low and hard into the corner.

PENALTIES: BAYERN 1-0 GLADBACH: HERRMANN MISSES!

A poor effort from Patrick Herrmann, and Sven Ulreich saves.

PENALTIES: BAYERN 1-0 GLADBACH: JAMES SCORES!

James slams beyong Nicolas to put Bayern ahead.

45' PENALTIES!

Both sides have had chances, but with nothing between them after 45 minutes, penalties will decide the final of the 2019 Telekom Cup...

44' DAVIES TURNS THE SCREW

Alphonso Davies takes the bull by the horns with a quick shift of pace. The Canadian goes to ground under Andreas Poulsen's challenge, but nothing's given and the ball goes out for a goal-kick.

39' SUBSTITUTION: BAYERN

You might remember Bayern's Joshua Zirkzee from the pre-season Intercontinental Champions Cup. The 17-year-old Dutch forward is on in place of Woo-yeong Jeong.

37' SUBSTITUTION: GLADBACH

Gladbach's third change as Julio Villalba replaces Mikael Cuisance

34' CHANCE! BAYERN: JEONG

Woo-yeong Jeong is one-on-one with Moritz Nicolas, but again the Gladbach keeper is equal to the task. Are Bayern heading for their second penalty shootout of the afternoon?

27' SUBSTITUTION: BAYERN

Renato Sanches makes way for Leon Goretzka. The Bayern and Portugal midfielder has put in a good shift over the two games.

23' SUBSTITUTION: GLADBACH

Florian Neuhaus, who played the full 45 of the semi-final against Hertha, is replaced in the Gladbach midfield by Denis Zakaria. Torben Müsel, aged 19, is also on in place of Ibrahima Traore.

19' CHANCE! GLADBACH: TRAORE

Alexander Lungwitz misjudges Patrick Herrmann's cross, but Ibrahima Traore can't make it count for Gladbach. He blazes his attempted volley over the crossbar.

14' CHANCE! BAYERN: WAGNER

Moritz Nicolas pulls off a stunning point-blank save to deny Sandro Wagner's towering header, following a fine bit of play on the left from Woo-yeong Jeong. Cat-like reactions and wrists of steel to keep that out!

9' CHANCE! GLADBACH: DRMIC

Gladbach really should be ahead. A long throw sends Josip Drmic through on goal with only Sven Ulreich to beat, but he doesn't get enough precision on the shot and Manuel Neuer's able deputy makes the stop.

8' DAVIES WATCH

We've seen a few nice touches from Alphonso Davies early on. Kid Canada doesn't look the slightest bit overawed by the occasion, but then he did make his MLS debut at 15!

4' CHANCE! GLADBACH: HERRMANN

Gladbach with the first real opening as Patrick Herrmann skins young Alexander Lungwitz on Bayern left. He lets fly on his left foot, but Jerome Boateng is there with a crucial block.

KICK-OFF! BAYERN 0-0 GLADBACH

What a moment for Alphonso Davies! How will he fare on his Bayern debut...?

BAYERN TEAM NEWS

Niko Kovac hands 18-year-old Canadian Alphonso Davies his Bayern debut! James Rodriguez also starts for the record champions in a side that includes South Korean teenager Woo-yeong Jeong and 18-year-old left-back Alexander Lungwitz. Renato Sanches is the only player who started the penalty shoot-out win over Fortuna to keep his place.

Bayern: Ulreich - Rafinha, Hummels, Boateng, Lungwitz - Thiago (c), Sanches - Davies, James, Jeong - Wagner
Subs: Neuer, Mai, Goretzka, Müller, Zirkzee
Out: Ribery (thigh), Robben (thigh), Tolisso (knee)
Coach: Niko Kovac

GLADBACH TEAM NEWS

Dieter Hecking brings in goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas, midfielder Laszlo Benes, winger Patrick Herrmann and striker Josip Drmic for this afternoon's final against Bayern. Thorgan Hazard, who scored the winner in the semi-final against Hertha, and captain Lars Stindl are among those to make way.

Gladbach: Nicolas, Beyer, Strobl, Jantschke, Poulsen, Benes, Cuisance, Neuhaus, Herrmann, Drmic, Traore
Subs: Sippel, Kramer, Zakaria, Villalba, Müsel
Out: Bennetts (thigh), Doucoure (thigh), Johnson (hip), Raffael (collarbone)
Coach: Dieter Hecking

FORTUNA FINISH THIRD AT THE 2019 TELEKOM CUP!

Düsseldorf run out deserved winners in front of their own fans.

32' GOAL! FORTUNA 3-1 HERTHA

Fortuna do grab a third goal. Hertha are caught in possession and Düsseldorf counter at break-neck speed. Benito Raman is involved again, turning provider for Marvin Ducksch to sink his second goal of the afternoon. That's two in nine minutes for the former Borussia Dortmund striker. He failed to scored in 576 Bundesliga minutes during the first half of the season!

29' CHANCE! FORTUNA: RAMAN

Fortuna have their tails up as Benito Raman stings the palms of Thomas Kraft from range. They're looking the more likely at the moment...

23' GOAL! FORTUNA 2-1 HERTHA: DUCKSCH

Marvin Ducksch feeds Benito Raman, who's unceremoniously dumped to the ground by Hertha's Karim Rekik. It's a clear penalty, and Ducksch makes no mistake from 12 yards. Fortuna lead for the first time!

11' GOAL! FORTUNA 1-1 HERTHA: KARAMAN

Düsseldorf are level! Aymen Barkok does brilliantly out on the left. He skips past Sidney Friede and lays the ball off to Kenan Karaman, who squeezes a shot off under pressure from a ruck of Hertha shirts and into the net. Game on!

8' ROW M

Fortuna with a chance to test Hertha's experimental defence as they win a corner off Kalou, but Takashi Usami contrives to hoof the ball into the stand on the far side.

3' GOAL! FORTUNA 0-1 HERTHA: KÖPKE!

Jaroslav Drobny will not want to see this again. A veteran of 200 Bundesliga appearances, the Fortuna goalkeeper tries to build the play from the back, but succeeds only in finding Hertha striker Salomon Kalou. He selflessly feeds Pasal Köpke, who pokes the ball home from five yards. Nightmare start for the competition hosts!

2' SHORT BUT SWEET

Remember, we're only playing for 45 minutes here in Düsseldorf. If there's nothing between the sides after that, it's penalties...

KICK-OFF! DÜSSELDORF VS. HERTHA

Who'll take bronze and who'll go home with nothing? We're under way...

HERTHA TEAM NEWS

Pal Dardai gives his side a facelift following the earlier 1-0 loss to Gladbach, with Salomon Kalou the highest-profile inclusion.

Hertha: Kraft - Pekarik, Rekik, Baak, Mittelstädt - Friede, Skjelbred - Dardai, Jastrzembski - Kalou, Köpke
Out: Dilrosun (thigh), Gersbeck (knee), Grujic (ankle), Kade (ankle), Leckie (Asian Cup), Luckassen (ankle)
Coach: Pal Dardai

FORTUNA TEAM NEWS

After losing to Bayern on penalties in the first semi-final, Fortuna coach Friedhelm Funkel rings the changes for the third-place match. Only Matthias Zimmermann, Niko Gießelmann, Takashi Usami and Benito Raman keep their places in the side.

Fortuna: Drobny - Zimmermann, Hoffmann, Bormuth, Gießelmann - Barkok, Bodzek - Raman, Usami - Ducksch, Karaman
Out: Contento (knee), Lovren (abdominal muscle), Sobottka (foot), Zimmer (hamstring)
Coach: Friedhelm Funkel

GLADBACH INTO FINAL!

Thorgan Hazard's blockbuster strike sends Gladbach into this afternoon's final, where they'll face Bayern Munich. Hertha will take on Fortuna in the third-place match.

43' CHANCE! HERTHA

Possibly Hertha's last opportunity to force penalties. Valentino Lazaro goes long with a free-kick and finds Vedad Ibisevic at the back post. The veteran striker can't bring the ball under wraps, though. That could be that...

40' CHANCE! GLADBACH

Ibrahima Traore whips in an inviting ball which Rune Jarstein fails to deal with. Thorgan Hazard is lurking, but can't quite reach it and the chance is gone.

36' GLADBACH EDGING CLOSER TO THE FINISH LINE

Gladbach are doing a good job at keeping Hertha at arm's length. Other than those long-range efforts from Ibisevic and Duda, the capital club haven't offered much in the final third.

30' TIME'S TICKING

Into the final 15 minutes. Can Hertha force their way back into the contest?

27' CHANCE! HERTHA: DUDA

There's life in Hertha yet. The Old Lady surge through the middle with Ondrej Duda, whose fierce low strike is directed to safety by the outstretched boot of Yann Sommer stand-in Tobias Sippel. He must do yoga...

26' JARSTEIN MOPS UP

Hertha are caught napping as Lars Stindl bursts after a long ball over the top. If he gets there first, he's in, but Jarstein reads it well and hoofs into touch.

23' HALFWAY

Gladbach are halfway to the final, and they look good value for their lead. You see why this lot put three past Bayern earlier in the campaign.

22' HERTHA PENALTY CLAIMS

Mikael Cuisance can count himself lucky after upending Ondrej Duda in the box. Hertha cry penalty, but the referee is unmoved.

18' CHANCE! GLADBACH: TRAORE!

Hertha clinging on now as Hazard slips in Traore, before Fabian Lustenberger intervenes to deny Gladbach a certain goal. This Gladbach attack is really something!

16' GLADBACH ON TOP

Gladbach are beginning to stamp their authority over this one as Mickael Cuisance sends Thorgan Hazard scampering through on goal. He only has Jarstein to beat, but Jordan Torunarigha manages to chase back and put in a challenge, just as Borussia's tormentor-in-chief was about to pull the trigger.

14' CHANCE! GLADBACH: NEUHAUS!

Has Dieter Hecking told his Gladbach side to shoot on sight? Florian Neuhaus is the next to try his luck, in a similar position to Hazard's opener, but Jarstein follows it all the way and is able to make a flying stop.

12' YELLOW PERIL

Hertha's Vladimir Darida goes into the book after scything down Christoph Kramer. Feisty stuff. These two mean business!

4' GOAL! HERTHA 0-1 GLADBACH!

OH. MY. WORD. Thorgan Hazard thunders in an absolute peach to give Gladbach the early lead. The Belgian cuts in from the left and leathers in off the underside of the crossbar from 18 yards. Not even 11 Rune Jarsteins would have stopped that. This guy just gets better and better!

2' CHANCE! HERTHA: IBISEVIC!

Vedad Ibisevic fires off an early warning shot that Tobias Sippel does well to claw clear. Encouraging start for Hertha...

KICK-OFF!

Some big names on show in Düsseldorf. Who will prevail?

HERTHA TEAM NEWS

Pal Dardai means business with his side. It's pretty much his first-choice XI, with the exception of absent duo Marko Grujic and Mathew Leckie.

Hertha: Jarstein - Lazaro, Stark, Torunarigha, Plattenhardt - Darida, Lustenberger, Maier - Duda - Ibisevic (c), Selke
Out: Dilrosun (thigh), Gersbeck (knee), Grujic (ankle), Kade (ankle), Leckie (Asian Cup), Luckassen (ankle)
Coach: Pal Dardai

GLADBACH TEAM NEWS

No Yann Sommer, Oscar Wendt or Alassane Plea for the Foals, but it's a strong side all the same. Thorgan Hazard starts up front.

Gladbach: Sippel - Beyer, Jantschke, Ginter, Poulsen - Cuisance, Kramer, Neuhaus - Hazard, Stindl (c), Traore
Subs: Nicolas, Strobl, Herrmann, Zakaria, Drmic, Villalba, Benes, Müsel
Out: Bennetts (thigh), Doucoure (thigh), Johnson (hip), Raffael (collarbone)
Coach: Dieter Hecking

WHO WILL PLAY BAYERN IN THE FINAL?

We've got another 45 minutes of action coming up as Hertha Berlin take on Borussia Mönchengladbach for the right to play Bayern in the final. Stay tuned...

BAYERN INTO THE FINAL!

Bayern win the penalty shoot-out 8-7, with Niklas Süle having the final say. What a 45 minutes that was! Borussia Mönchengladbach or Hertha Berlin await in the final...

PENALTIES: BAYERN 8-7 FORTUNA: SÜLE SCORES!

PENALTIES: BAYERN 7-7 FORTUNA: USAMI MISSES!

A glimmer of hope for Bayern...

PENALTIES: BAYERN 7-7 FORTUNA: SANCHES SCORES!

Portugal's former Golden boy fires into the top corner...

PENALTIES: BAYERN 6-7 FORTUNA: ZIMMERMANN SCORES!

PENALTIES: BAYERN 6-6 FORTUNA: COMAN SCORES!

PENALTIES: BAYERN 5-6 FORTUNA: RAMAN SCORES!

PENALTIES: BAYERN 5-5 FORTUNA: KIMMICH SCORES!

A fine penalty from the right-back. Rensing rooted to the spot.

PENALTIES: BAYERN 4-5 FORTUNA: KAMINSKI SCORES!

Marcin Kaminski slots it home. The pressure is on...

PENALTIES: BAYERN 4-4 FORTUNA: GORETZKA SCORES!

PENALTIES: BAYERN 3-4 FORTUNA: MORALES SCORES!

PENALTIES: BAYERN 3-3 FORTUNA: GNABRY SCORES!

A thunderbolt from the former Arsenal man!

PENALTIES: BAYERN 2-3 FORTUNA: LUKEBAKIO SCORES!

A confident finish into the corner from Fortuna's top scorer...

PENALTIES: BAYERN 2-2 FORTUNA: LEWANDOWSKI SCORES!

Was there ever any doubt?

PENALTIES: BAYERN 1-2 FORTUNA: STÖGER MISSES!

PENALTIES: BAYERN 1-2 FORTUNA: MÜLLER SCORES!

PENALTIES: BAYERN 0-2 FORTUNA: GIEßELMANN SCORES!

PENALTIES: BAYERN 0-1 FORTUNA: ALABA MISSES!

Michael Rensing guesses right and keeps Alaba out!

PENALTIES: BAYERN 0-1 FORTUNA: AYHAN SCORES!

Kaan Ayhan sends Neuer the wrong way. Fortuna lead!

45' PENALTIES!

There's nothing to separate Bayern and Fortuna with the scores at 0-0 after 45 minutes. The game goes to penalties. Manuel Neuer's one of the world's best at stopping them. Will luck be on his side here?

40' CHANCE! FORTUNA: USAMI

This is a good phase for Fortuna. Takashi Usami cuts inside from the left and lets fly, but the Japanese forward's shot is shut down by a collective defensive effort from Bayern!

38' CHANCE! FORTUNA: LUKEBAKIO

Lukebakio's pace is proving difficult to contain at the other end. The versatile attacker once again skips past Mai, but the referee rules that the centre-back got the ball before the man and Fortuna's penalty claims fall on deaf ears.

35' CHANCE! BAYERN: KIMMICH

Another gilt-edged chance for the champions! David Alaba's quick feet create a window of space for a cross which Kimmich is there - unmarked at the back post - to meet. His effort flies high with the goal at his mercy, though!

32' CHANCE! BAYERN: COMAN

That was close! The best chance of the game so far. Kimmich and Müller combine beautifully on the right before the latter swings a cross into the box. Coman is there to meet it with a powerful header, but Rensing pulls off a stunning reaction save to keep Bayern at bay!

30' CHANCE! BAYERN: COMAN

Bayern put together a string of passes before Renato Sanches finds Coman on the left. The French winger dips his shoulder and gets into the box, but this time Zimmermann is able to shepherd the danger wide.

25' CHANCE! FORTUNA: LUKEBAKIO

Dodi Lukebakio, who scored three against Bayern in November, skips past Mai in the Bayern box. He was clipped, but the Watford-owned Belgium U21 international was honest and kept his feet, only to then blaze his shot wide of the near post!

23' HALFWAY: BAYERN 0-0 FORTUNA

We've just moved past the halfway point of this first Telekom Cup semi-final. Bayern have dominated possession and had the better chances, but it remains 0-0 for now. If it ends honours even, penalties will separate the sides…

19' CHANCE! BAYERN: LEWANDOWSKI

Alfredo Morales gives Robert Lewandowski's jersey a tug on the edge of the Fortuna box and the Poland captain steps up to take the free-kick himself. Unfortunately for the champions, his effort only gets as far as the defensive wall.

15' CHANCE! BAYERN: MÜLLER

Kimmich races clear on the right-hand side and fizzes a low cross into Thomas Müller, but the Raumdeuter is given no space by Nico Gießelmmann and the chance goes begging.

13' NEW-LOOK BAYERN?

Only captain Manuel Neuer and top scorer Robert Lewandowski of today's starting line-up have already seen their 30th birthdays…

8' CHANCE! BAYERN: COMAN

This time it's Bayern's turn to threaten. Kingsley Coman twists and turns past Matthias Zimmermann on the far side. The Frenchman's shot then beats goalkeeper Michael Rensing - another former Bayern man - but his effort hits the outside side-netting!

5' CHANCE! FORTUNA: RAMAN

Benito Raman beats the offside trap and races through on the Bayern goal, but Süle races back and gets a foot in before the Belgian can get his shot off!

3' KIMMICH SEEING A LOT OF THE BALL

Bayern are spraying the ball around confidently, with Joshua Kimmich the focal point of their distribution so far. The Germany star has alternated between right-back and defensive midfield so far this season, but his ability to get forward and cross looks likely to be on full show here.

1' MAI THE FORCE BE WITH YOU?

Lukas Mai partnering Niklas Süle at the back? The 18-year-old has yet to feature in the Bundesliga this season, but made his debut beside Süle last term, in a 3-0 win over Hannover in April. He impressed the big man…

KICK-OFF!

We're underway at the Merkur Spiel-Arena. Fortuna are lined up in a 4-5-1 formation, obviously happy to try and catch the record champions on the counter. Bayern have their now customary 4-2-3-1, and will hope to dominate possession for the coming 45 minutes…

WARM UP

The teams are out on the Merkur Spiel-Arena turf. It's a drizzly 8 degrees Celsius/47 degrees Fahrenheit in Düsseldorf, and the zip on the pitch plus the short match duration mean this one should be played at a frenetic pace!

FULL-STRENGTH FORTUNA

Coach Friedhelm Funkel has named a strong starting line-up, with Dodi Lukebakio - scorer of a hat-trick the last time these teams met - up front. Jean Zimmer has picked up a hamstring injury, however. He joins former Bayern left-back Diego Contento on the sidelines.

Fortuna: Rensing – Zimmermann, Ayhan, Kaminski, Gießelmann – Usami, Stöger, Fink (c), Morales, Raman – Lukebakio
Out: Contento (knee), Lovren (abdominal muscle), Sobottka (foot), Zimmer (hamstring)
Coach: Friedhelm Funkel

BAYERN LINE UP IN!

Coach Niko Kovac has named a strong starting XI. There's no start for Davies, but the sight of Kingsley Coman flying up the wing once again will be a welcome one for the Bavarian faithful. Robert Lewandowski - scorer of 22 goals in all competitions this season - leads the line.

Bayern: Neuer (c) – Kimmich, Süle, Mai, Alaba – Sanches, Goretzka – Gnabry, Müller, Coman – Lewandowski
Out: Ribery (thigh), Robben (thigh), Tolisso (knee)
Coach: Niko Kovac

SCHEDULE

So, who is playing when?

There are four games, each 45 minutes long…

Bayern kick things off against Fortuna in the first of the Telekom Cup semi-finals at 1pm CET.

Borussia Mönchengladbach and Hertha Berlin then go head-to-head in the second semi at 2.10pm.

The losers contest the third-place play-off at 3.20pm, with the final kicking off at 4.30pm.

FIGHTING TALK

Niklas Süle certainly thinks Bayern can make up their six-point deficit on Borussia Dortmund once the season kicks off again. "I think we'll be the champions of Germany," he said. Do you agree?

DAVIES SET FOR DEBUT?

Canadian youngster Alphonso Davies has made a big impression on his teammates since his winter switch from Vancouver Whitecaps, with Robert Lewandowski in particular excited about the 18-year-old's impact.

“I’ll try and speak with Alphonso a lot,” he said. "For him I know that’s very important, that he feels comfortable in the new team and I want to help him. Of course, he’s very young, but I think he’ll be a great player!”

LITMUS TEST

Bayern look to be back on track ahead of the Rückrunde, having won five of their previous five matches before the winter break. The last team to take points off the champions? Fortuna Düsseldorf, who had Dodi Lukebakio to thank for an upset 3-3 draw in November.

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