Starting eleven returnees Jamal Musiala and joker Harry Kane have given FC Bayern in energy-saving mode the best possible starting position for the knockout round of the Champions League. The magic foot and the goal guarantor shot Munich’s 1b team to a somewhat flattering 2:1 (0:0) success against the Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven and thus secured second place in the preliminary round of the premier class.
This means that the German record champions have home advantage in the second leg right up to a possible semi-final. Bayern had already qualified for the round of 16, which will be drawn on February 27th. It will be played on the 10th/11th. and 17th/18th March, opponent is a team from places 15 to 18.
After a poor first half, in which goalkeeper Jonas Urbig prevented a deficit several times, Musiala made his big appearance: On his comeback to the starting line-up 207 days after his serious injury, he met a pass from Lennart Karl to make it 0-1 (58th). It was his first goal since returning. “It was pretty good, I’m coming in now, it was a good day,” said Musiala about his appearance on “DAZN”.
Ismail Saibari (78th) equalized for the home team, who never gave up. But Kane (84th) secured the threesome with his eighth goal of the season in the premier class. Eindhoven’s Mauro Júnior saw yellow-red in stoppage time.
“It’s all about winning. That’s the only thing that matters,” said coach Kompany. But his line-up seemed to contradict that: Manuel Neuer, Michael Olise and Kane were missing from the starting line-up. “It takes a lot of energy,” said the Belgian, explaining his five changes after the 2-1 defeat against FC Augsburg.
Musiala in the starting line-up: DFB star scores 1-0
One was to call Musiala into the starting line-up for the first time since the Club World Cup. “I don’t expect him to be the top performer,” Kompany said. But the director immediately plunged boldly into his famous dribbling. Tom Bischof (6th) hit the crossbar with a free kick.
It was a rare chance for the guests, PSV around playmaker Paul Wanner was much more dangerous for a long time. Urbig saved spectacularly from Joey Veerman (16th), whose shot was deflected by Jonathan Tah. The Neuer representative had to intervene again and again afterwards. He stretched in vain when ex-Munich player Ivan Perisic shot (45th), but the ball flew just wide.
Unnecessary fouls, numerous ball losses from Musiala – Bayern initially had a hard time in the second half. Until Karl shot his opponent Armando Obispo in the leg and found Musiala, who fired over the inside of the post.
Kompany then brought on his stars Kane, Olise, Alphonso Davies and Serge Gnabry with four substitutions (62nd), with Musiala, among others, leaving the pitch. Bayern focused on counterattacks, but often played them sloppily. Luis Díaz (70th) and Olise (72nd) had the opportunity to make the result more clear.
The fact that they didn’t did so took revenge: Eindhoven’s best Saibari scored the deserved equalizer after a remarkable combination. But Bayern had the last word: Kane was successful after a cross from Díaz.
