Pomaded Bayern and anxious Danes were the ingredients for a below-average draw in the Champions League. Bayern Munich and FC Copenhagen drew 0-0 on Wednesday (11/29/23) on matchday five of the group stage.
Bayern have long since qualified for the round of 16 in the premier class, the Danes are still in second place and will be in the group final against Galatasaray Istanbul in two weeks for second place in the next round. After 17 group games, Munich broke off a brilliant record winning streak.
Among those not in the Munich squad: Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting and the defenders Min-Jae Kim and Noussair Mazraoui. At the start of the game, Leory Sanè sat on the bench, where there were only four other field players besides the two substitute goalkeepers.
Defensively, coach Jacob Neestrup’s very disciplined guests from Copenhagen presented Bayern with difficult attacking tasks right from the start. Thomas Tuchel’s team only had one chance to score in the first half of the game. Copenhagen goalkeeper Kamil Grabara used a lightning reflex to clear a header from Thomas Müller (30′). Shortly before, the Danes had their best chance when Roony Bardghji shot from twelve meters to the left of keeper Manuel Neuer’s box – Neuer didn’t have to parry a single shot from the guests.
Nothing warming in the second half of the game either
Shortly after the break, Copenhagen had the first chance to score: Diogo Gonçalves shot from 20 meters in the ice-cold Munich arena, but shot past the Munich goal on the right. Although the Danes seemed to have gained some courage from the opportunity, the Munich team never seemed to relinquish control of the game. Copenhagen, which caused a sensation with a brilliantly fought victory over Manchester, still has every chance of making it to the round of 16 – but they were a bit too defensive for that.
But shortly before both Sané and Serge Ganbry joined the team, the Munich stadium was in a state of excitement: Mathys Tel had been attacked while taking a shot, but both referee Stephanie Frappart and her VAR did not see the action as a penalty-worthy foul.
Few chances to score
In the 67th minute, something new happened in this game: Manuel Neuer had to intervene for the first time when Elias Achour shot. Then the second highlight of the game – this time from Bayern’s perspective: Harry Kane shot from 17 meters, and the Polish keeper Grabara once again distinguished himself with a nice reflex.
Ten minutes before the regular end of the game, Dayot Upamecano headed a header from the left side to the right of the goal after a corner from Joshua Kimmich. And then he caused great excitement again when Müller went down twice in the Danish penalty area and the Munich team demanded a penalty in great excitement. But again the whistle didn’t blow, and even after checking the video assistant, the decision remained.
Neuer was in great demand at the end
In the final phase of the game, Neuer was called upon three more times: the keeper saved twice against Elyounoussi, then substitute Frans Krätzig blocked against Rasmus Falk.
And then injury time: Krätzig hit the arm of an opponent from close range – the referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot. But the VAR was switched on again – and the referee herself decided to continue playing on the monitor on the sidelines. There were whistles and protests in the stadium, but in the end it was a fair draw.
The round of 16 will be drawn on December 18th, before the Munich team goes to Manchester United (December 12th).