FC Bayern achieved their twelfth competitive win in their twelfth game without any major problems. In the Champions League game against FC Brugge on Wednesday evening, youngster Lennart Karl scored a historic goal. Munich once again impressed across the board, especially in the first half, and gave the Belgians no chance.
Karl (5th minute), Harry Kane (14th) and Luis Diaz scored in the first half to make it 4-0 (3-0), and substitute Nicolas Jackson made the final score (79th). As in the Bundesliga, Munich have a perfect record in the Champions League, got nine points from three games and are second in the table behind Paris St. Germain, their next opponent in the premier class.
“It was a very good football game, we played good ball and scored some nice goals“, said sporting director Christoph Freund happily after the game. Freund had words of praise for Karl, who made his debut in the starting eleven: “It’s nice that we have such top talent with us again. He scored a crazy goal, but you see it every day in training, he plays along, has an outstanding finish and isn’t nervous.“
Karl becomes the youngest German CL goalscorer
Right from the start, Bayern did what has always characterized them this season: high control of the game, fast offensive play, and outstanding counter-pressing. Bruges was overwhelmed with this dominance from the start. It took less than five minutes before Bayern were able to celebrate: Karl took a pass from Jonathan Tah perfectly, gave several opponents no chance when he made his move and finished unstoppably at the top right of the goal with his strong left foot.
With his goal, 17-year-old Karl set two records, making him both FC Bayern’s youngest Champions League goalscorer and the youngest German player to score in the premier class. “I’m very happy with the goal and my performance, it’s just a lot of fun with the boys” Karl said after the game on DAZN: “I’m the type of player who takes his shots and shoots the ball in.”
After ten minutes Aleksandar Pavlovic could have increased the score, but Brugge’s goalkeeper Nordin Jackers and the inside post prevented Munich’s second goal at that point.
Kane and Diaz increase for Bayern
Munich’s goal guarantor Kane finally followed up. Diaz sent Laimer into the penalty area on the left, the Austrian put it straight across, making it 2-0 was easy for Kane. Bayern stayed on the accelerator and let the ball and opponents run. The game seemed already decided at this early stage, Munich’s superiority was so overwhelming.
After Diaz (20th) and Karl (31st) missed further great chances, the Colombian was able to celebrate in the first half. Laimer, who somewhat surprisingly played on the left in defense as a right-footer, while left-footer Raphael Guerreiro occupied the right-back position, played to Diaz in the penalty area. The Belgians allowed far too much space, so Diaz simply shot high into the middle of the goal. Jackers didn’t look good, couldn’t get his hands up in time and had to pick the ball out of the net for the third time.
The strong Munich left side: Luis Diaz (l.) and Konrad Laimer
Tresoldi with good actions, Tzolis checks Neuer
And what about Bruges’ offensive? Ex-Hannover player Nicolo Tresoldi, German U21 international, had some decent performances, but he couldn’t show much given Munich’s dominance. Another old acquaintance, Christos Tzolis (formerly Düsseldorf), was responsible for the visitors’ first opportunity shortly before half-time: the Greek followed his dynamic attack with a powerful right-foot shot, but Manuel Neuer in the Bayern goal reacted strongly.
Tried hard but had no effect: U21 striker Nicolo Tresoldi (Bruges)
Before the break, Kane had it 4-0 on his feet, but his hard finish with his left landed on the outside post.
Kane wants his second goal, but it doesn’t happen
Visiting coach Nicky Hayen made two changes at the break, a measure that at least contributed to Bayern’s quality of chances being slightly lower. Nevertheless, Bayern more than deserved the fourth goal. Kane alone (51st, 58th, 61st, 63rd) was able to score several times from promising positions within a few minutes.
From then on, Bayern reduced the pace and intensity. Kane was replaced by coach Vincent Kompany to take a breather; the main thing for the hosts was now to help players with less match practice (such as substitute Jackson) get minutes and self-confidence.
And because a lot of things are working at Bayern at the moment, this plan also worked: After a rebound, new signing Jackson was allowed to shoot in unchallenged and scored his first goal in the Munich Arena. It was the end of an extremely one-sided game in which Bayern underlined their strong start to the season.
PSG is now waiting in the Champions League
The Bundesliga continues for Bayern on Saturday (3:30 p.m.) with the crisis team in Mönchengladbach. In the Champions League, a real cracker awaits with Paris St. Germain on matchday 4 (Tuesday, November 4th, 9 p.m.).