For a long time it looked like the next defeat for the German record champions, then came the dramatic final phase in Salzburg. The game began with another desolate phase for FC Bayern.
Take a deep breath, FC Bayern – in the very last second, the German record champions fought a 1-1 (0-1) win in the Champions League round of 16 first leg at Red Bull Salzburg. Kingsley Coman saved Julian Nagelsmann’s side with his goal in the 90th minute. Junior Adamu (21st) had previously given Salzburg the lead in a defensive phase that was once again desolate for Munich.
After the flawless group phase with six wins and 22:3 goals, the Munich team presented themselves on Wednesday evening in the packed Red Bull Arena against the Austrian round of 16 debutants not yet ready for the title. “In the first half that was a bit too little. Salzburg came up with dangerous counterattacks. In the second half we controlled it better,” explained Bayern’s Joshua Kimmich after the game on the “DAZN” streaming service. “The team noticed that we wanted to win the game. The fact that we can do it is not the question. We have to get it on the pitch in every game. We’re not in a flow that it will happen by itself. That everyone understood.”
Bayern prevented the first away defeat in four and a half years in the premier class. The second leg is on March 8th in the Allianz Arena. 29,520 spectators in the sold-out Red Bull Arena created a tingling atmosphere and gave a foretaste of the possibility that stadiums in Germany will soon be full again. And Salzburg, with their carefree power and dynamism, made sure that it didn’t get any quieter as the game progressed.
Süle blunders after just three minutes
The Austrian champions should serve Munich as compensation for the disgrace of Bochum, which Nagelsmann says has been worked up. But the defensive vulnerability was not eliminated within four days. The switch from a back four to a back three with the removal of Dayot Upamecano, who was completely indisposed in Bochum, did not change that. Time and again, carefree Salzburg uncovered the deficiencies of the Munich defense with their fast-paced football.
The young German national player Adeyemi played a leading role, tearing up holes with his speed, which should have pleased national coach Hansi Flick in the stands. Already in the third minute, Adeyemi caused danger for the first time after a blunder by Niklas Süle – both of them could be teammates at Borussia Dortmund next season.
Ulreich prevented worse
It was also Adeyemi who gave Salzburg the lead with a great counterattack when he put forward colleague Adamu through Brenden Aaronson. The Austrian, who only came on due to Noah Okafor’s early injury, gave Ulreich no chance. In any case, it was not the fault of the representative of the injured Manuel Neuer. On the contrary, Ulreich saved a second goal from Aaronson’s shot before the break (24′).
At that point at the latest, the people of Munich should have realized that Salzburg might not be the easier opponent compared to the Spanish champions Atlético Madrid, who were originally drawn to Bayern in the draw in December. The performance of the German record champions was not as confident as it should be in a knockout game in the premier class.
Of course, Bayern also had their chances. In the first round, especially in the person of Serge Gnabry, who once forced Philipp Köhn to make a save (10th) and was blocked twice with a double chance (40th). Leroy Sané also put the ball just wide of the goal (30′). Nagelsmann was not satisfied with that. Visibly annoyed, the young coach scolded Bayern Bank.
It couldn’t go on like this in the second round. And Munich increased the pressure, pushed the tired Salzburg back to their own penalty area, although the determination and consistency were often lacking. And it got tricky, Salzburg still had Köhn, who made great saves against Coman (73rd), Sané and Gnabry (76th each). Bayern now risked a lot and were lucky not to concede the second goal on a counterattack. Ulreich saved an Adeyemi shot before Benjamin Pavard cleared an Adamu shot on the line (81′).