FC Bayern Munich sensationally failed in the DFB Cup against third division team 1. FC Saarbrücken. Marcel Gaus was the hero of the evening on Wednesday evening (November 1st, 2023) with his last-minute goal to make it 2-1.
As expected, Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel initially rested a number of stars. At the start of the game, Harry Kane, Kingsley Coman, Jamal Musiala, Serge Gnabry and Konrad Laimer took their places on the substitutes’ bench. However, Laimer was needed early on: in the 24th minute he replaced Mathijs de Ligt, who had injured his knee while lunging. Laimer moved into central midfield alongside Frans Krätzig, Joshua Kimmich had to replace de Ligt in central defense.
Lead through Müller’s long-range shot
At this point, Bayern had already made it 1-0 and Krätzig had collected an assist: Thomas Müller used his pass with a well-placed 18-meter shot to give the visitors the lead; Saarbrücken keeper Tim Schreiber, despite his 1.91 meter height, was no longer able to reach the goal in time left corner.
In the period that followed, Bayern repeatedly combined to dangerously move forward, but in the final instance they repeatedly made the wrong decisions. So after 40 minutes of oppressive superiority and 70 percent possession of the ball, the goal-scoring ratio was just 2:1 in favor of Munich. Mathys Tel was repeatedly ignored by his colleagues on the left side, while on the right Leroy Sané dribbled several times or complained about inaccurate and late passes.
Kim makes a mistake, Sontheimer equalizes
Despite their small share of the game, the Saarbrücken team even appeared more dangerous in their isolated advances than the record champions and cup winners. Kasim Rabihic was already on the verge of equalizing, but missed his shot (31′) and shortly afterwards allowed Kimmich to slide past him in a promising position.
Amine Naifi also hesitated for too long in the 42nd minute, but shortly before the half-time whistle Manuel Neuer was beaten: Min-jae Kim put Krätzig in trouble with a sloppy pass in the build-up, Naifi won the ball and sent Lukas Boeder steeply to the right , who passed perfectly to Patrick Sontheimer in the center – 1:1, the Ludwigspark shook.
Saarbrücken is becoming bolder
And the equalizer had an impact. The Saarbrücken team came out of the locker room much more courageous and self-confident, attacked Bayern much higher and, above all, repeatedly forced Kim, who was completely indisposed that evening, to make mistakes.
However, little progress was made, the Munich team had their next dangerous move after just under an hour: Sané failed in the FCS goal after a through pass from Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to Schreiber.
Writer at the center
Tuchel reacted immediately afterwards, bringing on Musiala, Coman and Gnabry, but this trio didn’t really put the Saarbrücken team in trouble at first. Gnabry had a good finishing situation in the 70th minute, but finished far too centrally so that Schreiber could easily parry the ball.
Schreiber was the focus again five minutes later, but this time he had to bring his full class to bear – the keeper spectacularly directed Coman’s shot over the crossbar. Saarbrücken could no longer find any relief, but without striker Kane they still lacked penetration: Müller headed just wide (80th), shortly afterwards Coman found his master again in Schreiber and in the final minute of regular time, Gaus and Schreiber worked together to block a Müller shot away.
Kane stays outside, Gaus scores
When everyone in Ludwigspark was already expecting extra time, Gaus actually shot the Saarbrücken team into the round of 16 after a sparkling counterattack in the 5th minute of added time – Harry Kane was still watching the action from the sidelines.
Dortmund and Sandhausen are waiting
Bayern now continue in the top Bundesliga game next Saturday at 6:30 p.m. against Borussia Dortmund. Saarbrücken face SV Sandhausen in the 3rd league on the same day from 2 p.m.