Update
Game interruption after protest
FC Bayern overcomes their first cup hurdle without a central defender
September 26, 2023, 10:42 p.m
FC Bayern easily defeated third division team Preußen Münster in the first round of the DFB Cup – and could even do without trained central defenders. On the other hand, things get wild in the stands, so the game only has to be started later and then interrupted.
Despite the defensive alarm, Bayern Munich easily mastered their mandatory task in the first round of the DFB Cup and prepared themselves for the Bundesliga clash at RB Leipzig on Saturday. Bayern easily won 4-0 (3-0) against third division team Preußen Münster and were not deterred by some personnel concerns.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (9th), who played in the center of the attack for superstar Harry Kane, who was rested this time, gave Bayern an early lead. Konrad Laimer (40th) and Frans Krätzig (45th + 5) increased with his first competitive goal. Superjoker Mathys Tel put the final point (86th). However, there was a downer for Bayern: national player Serge Gnabry had to be substituted injured after just eleven minutes.
“It was a confident performance from us, overall that’s the key word of the evening,” said substitute central defender Leon Goretzka on ZDF and, with a view to the lack of defensive strength, added: “They’re coming back. I’m in good spirits for the weekend.” “We were able to celebrate a wonderful football festival here,” emphasized Prussia’s sports director, Peter Niemeyer.
Daniel Peretz, who was signed as a potential heir to Manuel Neuer, had a quiet debut in goal for coach Thomas Tuchel’s team, who until the end had hoped that the ailing central defenders Dayot Upamecano and Min-Jae Kim would be deployed. “But the risk of injury” was too great, said Tuchel. Matthijs de Ligt was missing anyway.
Bayern fans with protest action
However, everyone involved had to wait a few minutes for kick-off because the Preußen Münster fans set off some fireworks. Then Bayern started with an emergency back four that had never played together like this before – and most likely won’t again. Leon Goretzka moved back from midfield and formed the defensive center with the actual full-back Noussair Mazraoui. Laimer played on the right and Alphonso Davies on the left.
The early 1-0 by Choupo-Moting was just right for the reformed record champions. But when Gnabry had to leave the field with arm pain as a result of a collision with Münster goalkeeper Johannes Schenk, Tuchel was forced to change again – and the momentum was gone.
Bayern fans threw tennis balls onto the pitch.
(Photo: IMAGO/MIS)
FC Bayern was still sorting itself out after Krätzig was substituted, when the third division team from Münster had their first chance: Peretz parried Malik Batmaz’s shot (17th), which was deflected by Goretzka, in the follow-up. Shortly afterwards, FC Bayern fans protested, causing a two-minute interruption. After around 30 minutes of play, the supporters threw numerous tennis balls onto the field. They also showed a large poster with the inscription “No to the Supercup on the cup weekend!”
The first round game in Münster was only played on this Tuesday evening because the Munich team played in the Supercup against RB Leipzig on the actual cup date in August. The Supercup and the first cup round have been scheduled in parallel since last season. After the balls were removed, referee Matthias Jöllenbeck continued the game.
Youngster Krätzig and Tel meet
With a lot of ball possession and passes, Bayern quickly took control again without becoming dangerous. Only Jamal Musiala repeatedly initiated attacks, but the speed dribbler also usually got stuck – and then didn’t hit the ball properly in a promising position (37th). Goretzka was denied by Schenk with a header (39′).
Otherwise, Münster defended with “multiple legs” as required by coach Sascha Hildmann and gave the Munich team little space. Then Laimer, who scored his first goal for Bayern after a cross from Goretzka, and Krätzig increased the score before half-time.
The goals robbed the game of any hint of tension, and Bayern dominated their opponents with overwhelming dominance after the restart. Münster hardly got out of their own half, but continued to throw themselves into every duel and tried to keep their overwhelming opponents away from the goal. When the third division team won a corner, the fans cheered.
With the confident lead behind them, Bayern managed the result, Tuchel diligently made substitutions. The former Dortmund Raphael Guerreiro made his debut after torn a muscle bundle in his calf, and Bouna Sarr and the Japanese Taichi Fukui also collected minutes of action. In the end, Tel finished the game with a shot from a tight angle.