Wolfsburg – It’s going to be fun with this Bayern in the season that has just started. The team of the new coach Vincent Kompany is a mixed bag, seems (not yet?) solid, anything but stable. In a furious – from the coach’s point of view far too wild – game at VfL Wolfsburg, Bayern won 3-2 after leading 1-0 and trailing 1-2 at the end.
A lucky win at the start of the league season, the result could have been 2:3 or 4:4. Serge Gnabry scored the celebrated 3:2 winner for FC Bayern, who were titleless last season (82′).
FC Bayern win against Wolfsburg: Kompany gets a vote of confidence
Sure, Kompany has a lot of credit, he gets a big vote of confidence ‒ also because the preparation and the cup opener (4:0 against second division newcomers Ulm) gave those in charge hope. But what kind of football does the 38-year-old Belgian want to play in his first position as head coach of a top European team?
Before kick-off, Kompany outlined his game plan again on DAZN: “I want to see Bayern football, that’s important for me. I want us to show what we’ve learned in preparation.” And that is? “That we win the ball back quickly when we don’t have it. When we have the ball, that we know how to get from possession to the goal.” So speed! Think quickly, switch quickly. With which personnel?
The only new addition to Bayern’s starting eleven: Frenchman Michael Olise (r). © Swen Pförtner/dpa The only new addition to Bayern’s starting eleven: Frenchman Michael Olise (r). “}”>
Kompany brings Olise, Kane and Boey into the starting eleven
Kompany surprised everyone with his line-up in his first Bundesliga game: He did not bring in the experienced Konrad Laimer as right-back in place of Josip Stanisic, who underwent surgery on the lateral ligament of his right knee on Tuesday, but Sacha Boey (23), who – also due to various injuries – played only his third competitive game since his move in January from Galatasaray Istanbul for 30 million euros.
Kompany said of Boey on DAZN: “He did well in preparation. Many players did well. I can’t do much wrong because of that.” Before Boey, the only new summer signing was in the starting eleven: left-footer Michael Olise as right winger. Striker: Harry Kane. Out for now: cup double-packer Thomas Müller.
Grades: Bayern win in Wolfsburg – but the defense is a major concern
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The dethroned champion entered the match with gusto and dominance. The first chances: A Gnabry shot after a clever pass from Kane was saved with the back of his head (9th). Then Kane with a shot against the mask of the new VfL goalkeeper Kamil Grabara (11th) and the header from Joshua Kimmich (13th), both times well prepared by Olise.
Musiala’s deserved lead was prepared by Olise and Kane on the right wing, Boey passed the ball precisely to Musiala as he ran in – 0:1 (20′). Musiala’s sixth goal against Wolfsburg. The Wolves are “Bambi’s” favorite opponents.
Has a contract with FC Bayern until 2026: Jamal Musiala. He scored his sixth goal against Wolfsburg (archive photo). © IMAGO / PRiME Media Images Has a contract with FC Bayern until 2026: Jamal Musiala. He scored his sixth goal against Wolfsburg (archive photo).
von IMAGO / PRiME Media Images
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Joker Müller brings about a turnaround for FC Bayern
Bayern failed to go into halftime with a clearer lead and got their comeuppance straight after the break. Boey crossed Tiago Tomas’ path in the penalty area too impetuously: foul, penalty, 1:1 by Lovro Majer (47th), who eight minutes later slotted home a serious mistake by Min-jae Kim to make it 2:1 for the hosts. The Bayern defense in late summer mode: dozing and swimming.
Then Kompany brought on Müller (65th), who thus became the record player of the record champions: His 709th (!) competitive game for Bayern, putting him on a par with legend Sepp Maier, and also his 474th league game – one more than Maier, a new record.
As soon as Thomas Müller (sitting) comes into play, the Wolfsburg goal rings. A few seconds after his substitution, which makes him the record player for Munich, Bayern manage to make it 2:2. © IMAGO/RHR-Foto As soon as Thomas Müller (sitting) comes into play, the Wolfsburg goal rings. A few seconds after his substitution, which makes him the record player for Munich, Bayern manage to make it 2:2.
by IMAGO/RHR-Photo
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Müller brought the spirit, Kane sent the ball towards the goal line after a Kimmich corner, Wolfsburg’s Kaminski unintentionally scored – 2:2. With Müller came a piece of paper on which Kompany wrote instructions for his team. Kimmich took them to heart, but didn’t take them in his hand. “The coach wanted to change something. But did you see where Thomas put the piece of paper? I didn’t want to touch it.”
Müller had stuffed Kompany’s tactics sheet into his underpants. “Everything was a bit blurry. It’s often very hot in the engine,” Müller joked and explained: “It said how we should play after the change in the spatial distribution. All completely normal stuff.”
“I didn’t expect Thommy to come around”
Serge Gnabry was ultimately responsible for the fact that only the paper and not the performance went wrong with his winning goal in the 82nd minute – after an assist from Müller. Before that, the record player held his own in a duel with Cédric Zesiger – to the surprise of the final goalscorer:
“I didn’t expect Thommy to come around,” said Gnabry, surprised, on “DAZN,” “but he did a great job. Sometimes he does things with his body that are crazy.”
Thanks to this win, Bayern remain unbeaten in their 19th consecutive league match against the Wolves. A successful start, three points. All’s well that ends well? A clear yes and no.
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