The exhausted Bayern stars around rescuer Kingsley Coman strolled relieved to their fans and cheered a little happy ending after a show of strength.
The French final scorer of 2020 just saved the Munich star ensemble from a nasty belly landing at the snotty challenger RB Salzburg. Coman scored in the 90th minute to make it 1-1 (0-1) at the Austrian soccer champions and thus averted Munich’s first defeat of the season in the premier class at the start of the knockout phase. 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 but not yet ready for the title.
“Salzburg has come to dangerous counterattacks”
“In the first half that was a bit too little. Salzburg came up with dangerous counterattacks. We controlled it better in the second half. The team saw that we wanted to win the game. Whether we can is not the question. We have to get that on the pitch in every game. We are not in a flow that goes by itself. Everyone understood that too, »said Bayern’s midfield star Joshua Kimmich to the DAZN streaming service.
Striker Junior Adamu, who came on as a substitute early on, got the vociferous Salzburg fans into a happy mood with his opening goal on assist by the very dynamic German international Karim Adeyemi. Bayern ran on after the break, but almost conceded the 2-0 lead when Adeyemi and Adamu had a double chance (81′). Then the Coman, who was getting stronger after the break, struck.
Bayern prevented the first away defeat in four and a half years in the premier class. At that time, the Bundesliga champion had lost at Paris Saint-Germain. The second leg is on March 8th in the Allianz Arena.
Salzburg were a little disappointed: “In the end it feels like a defeat, but a 1-1 draw is something to be proud of. We are ready for the next game. We are greedy and a block on the leg for Bayern,” said Adeyemi and Andreas Ulmer added: “It doesn’t feel so good right now. With a bit of distance you can be proud.”
RB Salzburg with force and dynamism
29,520 spectators in the sold-out Red Bull Arena ensured a lively 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.
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 time again, the carefree Salzburgers 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 may be teammates at Borussia Dortmund next season.
It was 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′).
Bayern had their chances
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′). (dpa)