On the 24th matchday of the Bundesliga, FC Bayern Munich presented in the fight for the title and defeated FC Augsburg 5:3. Around 90 minutes before the start of the district derby between FCB pursuers Borussia Dortmund and FC Schalke 04, Augsburg were only able to convince against the German record champions in the first two minutes of the game, but still scored three goals.
By beating their rivals from Bavarian Swabia, the FC Bayern Munich players stifled the isolated worries of some FCB officials that the team might no longer have the necessary motivation for the bread and butter after the convincing victory in the Champions League against PSG on Wednesday. and butter business Bundesliga could have in the bud.
After the early deficit through a goal by Augsburg’s Mergim Berisha (2nd), João Cancelo, Benjamin Pavard (2x) and Leroy Sané ensured clear conditions in the first half. Berisha scored twice for FCA, and Irvin Cardona scored the goal in injury time to make it 5-3.
FC Bayern Munich – FC Augsburg: The analysis
Mergim Berisha scored his fourth goal in his fourth game against Bayern Munich, including two for Augsburg. The ex-Red Bull Salzburg striker earned the goal with a nice spin and a technically valuable possession, but the goal was ably assisted by the Bayern defence, which didn’t appear to be in the game yet; the final header came from FCB pro Benjamin Pavard.
Pavard was one of five newcomers in Bayern’s starting eleven: Nagelsmann had rotated Josip Stanisic, who was outstanding in the 2-0 win against PSG in the Champions League, as well as Kingsley Coman, Thomas Müller and Leon Goretzka to the substitutes’ bench. Eric Maxim Choupo-Mouting was out with back problems. Pavard, João Cancelo, Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sané and Sadio Mané played for the quintet.
Such an early deficit can lead to match plans becoming obsolete – not so in this game. Bayern acted as if nothing had happened and started their game practically 120 seconds and a goal behind. After 19 minutes of play, they not only leveled the score, but also turned it upside down: First, Cancelo equalized (15′) after a pass from Sané with the kind help of the Augsburg back line, who didn’t block his diagonal ball into the goal Pavard scored to make it 2-1 (18th) after a remarkable overhead kick by Mané.
As a result, Augsburg could hardly get a hold of Bayern, who were very good in their 3-1-4-2 formation. Up to the 30th minute, for example, Jamal Musiala, who replaced Leon Goretzka on the eight, had made four successful dribbles and six of his won eight duels. When Augsburg defended Matthijs de Ligt’s powerful header to the right in the 34th minute, the ball landed at Pavard, who this time made it 3-1 with an artistically and technically valuable scissors shot.
By this point in the game at the latest, Augsburg were doing everything you shouldn’t do in defense against FC Bayern Munich: They stood deep and were quite massed around and in their penalty area, but they mainly stood; if you could call it a pressing at all, the players were pulling it very low.
The result: Bayern were able to pass balls to each other as they wished and arrange their opponents. The 4-1 win before the break was only logical – and a symbol of the weak Augsburg defense: Alphonso Davies won the ball in midfield, Musiala quickly got the ball to Mané, whose pass came off the thigh of FCA keeper Rafal Gikiewicz at Sané landed, who headed into the goal from close range.
Maaßen made four changes during the break, at least once (!) in each part of the team – this radical measure indirectly contributed to the 2: 4: Substitute Irvin Cardona was somehow brought down by de Ligt in the penalty area in the scramble for the ball, the penalty due converted Berisha with his fifth goal in the fourth game against Bayern (60th). Bayern then took a brief hiatus before Cancelo used another shortcoming in FCA’s defense to banana cross Alphonso Davies; who scored the fourth goal through a Bayern defender that afternoon.
In stoppage time, Cardona scored the 3:5 after Leroy Sané lost the ball unnecessarily. Three goals conceded were at least one too many given the course of the game, but bearable this afternoon.
FC Bayern Munich – FC Augsburg: The line-ups
FC Bayern Munich: Summer – Pavard, Upamecano, de Ligt (83rd Blind) – Kimmich – Cancelo, Sane, Musiala (78th Gravenberch), Davies (78th Mazraoui) – Gnabry (71st Müller), Mane (72nd Tel). – Trainer: Nagelsmann
FC Bayern Munich – FC Augsburg: The voices of the game
Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich): “We can’t concede three goals. Everyone’s a little angry, you always want to keep a clean sheet. It’s good that we come out with three points after Wednesday’s game. Sometimes you have to stay focused. We wanted to score a lot of goals, then the defense falls a bit short.”
… about Benjamin Pavard: “We talked at half-time about whether he could make the hat-trick. But he’s also a great option offensively. We have to have confidence in our qualities. We work hard every day. The flow is so slow come back.”
Julian Nagelsmann (Coach FC Bayern Munich): “I’m happy with the result. We did our job. The reaction to the early deficit was very good. In the second half we didn’t have that much control. Offensively it was very good, defensively not so well. Three goals are closed much.”
Enrico Maassen (FC Augsburg coach): “It was a deserved victory for Bayern. We started very well. Then we conceded goals that were too easy, so we have to defend with more consistency. Then it becomes difficult against such a world-class team. The reaction in the second half was very positive Morale very good.”
The star of the game: Benjamin Pavard (FCB)
The central defender was still missing against PSG and frantically cheered on his team-mates from the stands. Against Augsburg, he unluckily started the 0:1, but then compensated himself and the team with two nice goals and a spotless performance. He had the most touches of any player on the field and one of the best passing rates.
The flop of the game: Robert Gumny (FC Augsburg)
Actually, Bayern put a little less pressure on his right side, Alphonso Davies was a little less dangerous than Cancelo on the other side. Nevertheless, Gumny never got his side under control, lost six of his eight tackles, seven balls and only played eight passes before he was substituted during the break.
The referee: Florian Badstübner
The players made it easy for the 32-year-old in a fair game. After the penalty for Augsburg, he rightly trusted the VAR when asked whether Berisha could have played the ball with his standing leg when it fell.
