Bayern Munich managed a narrow victory at FC Augsburg. The game was characterized by five VAR interventions – and two penalties in the final phase. The Munich team won 3:2 (2:0) against courageous Augsburg.
Youngster Aleksandar Pavlović thanked his coach Thomas Tuchel for naming him the starting eleven with the opening goal (23′), with the half-time whistle the most recently criticized Alphonso Davies increased (45’+5). After the break, Ermedin Demirović made it close (52′), but then Harry Kane struck and ended his short goal drought (61′). It was Kane’s 23rd goal of the season. Manuel Neuer parried a penalty he caused against Sven Michel (86th). Demirovic then confidently converted Augsburg’s second penalty in the final phase (90th +4).
FCA with a lot self-consciousness
The fact that the Augsburg team were showing a particular amount of self-confidence after their two recent home wins against Munich was immediately apparent in the first half of the game. Demirović tested Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer in the third minute with a shot from 14 meters.
Less than two minutes later, referee Christian Dingert whistled a hand penalty against the Munich team: Matthijs de Ligt had received the ball on his upper arm. However, the video assistant saw that the handball happened on the edge of the penalty area – no penalty, the following free kick resulted in nothing.
Augsburg celebrated the goal in the 12th minute: Elvis Rexhbeçaj put the ball in the Bayern goal with a side kick. But Phillip Tietz’s header was prepared from a minimal offside position. And the third important action in the game also required the use of VAR: After a sharp corner from Raphael Guerreiro, the youngster Aleksandar Pavlović, who was lined up from the start, was quickest in the six-yard box and shot the ball unstoppably into the goal from the turn.
Previously, Pavlović had kept Augsburg keeper Finn Dahmen busy and would have been offside if Leon Goretzka’s corner had been extended. However, Goretzka could not be proven to have touched the ball.
Coman also injured
However, Bayern had to pay very dearly for the goal: Kingsley Coman was kicked in the turmoil in Augsburg’s penalty area and had to be substituted injured. After the recent failures of Dayot Upamecano, Konrad Laimer and Joshua Kimmich, the next forced break for a top performer could be imminent for the Munich team.
The Augsburgers celebrated when Demirovic reduced the score to 1:2 after the break. The Fuggerstadt team not only gained hope of turning the game around from the goal, but also from the fact that Kevin Mbabu was able to cross sharply on the right side, completely unattacked. Left-back Davies had moved in and the defense was completely blank.
VAR, the fourth
Kane then scored from a clearly offside position – when Jamal Musiala passed the ball into the six-yard box, the Munich star striker was about a meter behind the defense. But: Kristijan Jakic had tipped the ball off Musiala’s foot, so the ball came from the opponent for Kane. The VAR had switched on for the fourth time and Dingert personally looked at the situation on the sidelines. The fourth decision with significant participation – and the fourth correct one in the spirit of football.
But the hosts were far from giving up: Manuel Neuer held on to the two-goal lead when Beljo got the ball to his head after a failed defensive move from Eric Dier, which then flew straight towards the goal from close range, and Neuer with a lightning reflex held the ball.
Mathys Tel missed the big chance to make it 4-1 ten minutes before the official end of the game after Leroy Sané served him perfectly with a vertical pass – but Tel only hit the right post.
Two penalties in the final phase
Then things got exciting again – or could have been. During a defensive action, Munich’s world-class goalkeeper Neuer Felix Uduokhai hit the back of the head. And now the VAR intervened and Neuer parried the penalty against Michel.
But that wasn’t enough: Thomas Müller, who had recently been substituted, hit Demirović on the foot in the seven minutes of stoppage time in his own penalty area – there was a penalty, without intervention from the video assistant. Demirović immediately pointed to himself and converted down the left. Augsburg once again threw everything forward, but Munich saved their narrow lead over time.
Fuggerstädter in Bochum, Bavaria against Gladbach
Augsurg travels to Bochum on matchday 20. The Munich team will play against Gladbach in front of their home crowd (both Saturday, February 3, 2024 at 3:30 p.m.).