FC Bayern was worried before the game against Salzburg, and there was talk of a possible knockout round of the Champions League. In the end, however, everything turned out differently. Bayern cheer, Salzburg cries.
It sounds as clumsy as it is trite, but in the end the old saying has once again come true: If FC Bayern is challenged, they are there – wide awake and fully focused. After the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Salzburg (1-1), there was already talk of a possible exit from Bayern. But the German record champions delivered both a convincing performance and a real gala in the second leg. In the end, Salzburg had to admit defeat 7:1.
Goal scorer Robert Lewandowski was once again outstanding, contributing three goals to advance to the quarter-finals (12th/21st/23rd). Serge Gnabry (31st), Thomas Müller (54th/83rd) and Leroy Sané (85th) also scored. Maurits Kjaergaard (70th) scored for Salzburg, who were completely overwhelmed.
“It was a statement and an exclamation mark,” said captain Manuel Neuer on Amazon Prime Video. He was happy about the optimal start with the double penalty. “We are very happy with the performance.” Neuer now hopes “that things will continue like this”. The two-time goalscorer Müller summed it up: “It was a decent game. Everyone knew how important this game was for the season.”
The title dream is alive
Three weeks after the meager 1-1 draw in Salzburg, Bayern were back in European form. Seven wins and 30:5 goals after eight premier class games awaken dreams of the title. The playful lightness that had been missing recently returned. The quarterfinals will be drawn on March 18th. “If we get through, the season can be extremely good,” said leader Müller before the game. A good prophecy.
At the start of the game, all eyes in the arena were on Manuel Neuer. The captain led Bayern again just four weeks after undergoing surgery on his right knee. And the 35-year-old, despite conceding a goal, had a pleasant comeback evening. But the main role was played by Lewandowski. In the very first minute, the goalscorer tested Salzburg goalkeeper Philipp Köhn. Coach Julian Nagelsmann relied on his entire offensive band and only three defenders in the back three he loved. “In the end, it’s about bringing the players in the best form onto the pitch,” Nagelsmann explained his approach to Amazon Prime.
Wöber fouls – penalty
It also went well because winger Kingsley Coman was able to just clear a big chance from Nicolas Capaldo in his own penalty area, prepared by Munich-born Karim Adeyemi (2′). The agile Coman, already a last-minute goal scorer in the first leg, then also initiated the 1-0. Lewandowski took his cross with brilliant technique, Salzburg’s Maximilian Wöber had to foul.
Lewandowski shot the penalty flat into the left corner. When it was 2-0, it was almost the same game: Lewandowski was fouled by Wöber again. And again the Pole chose the left corner, Köhn dived to the other side. In the 3-0 after a pass from Müller, Bayern’s super striker was lucky that goalkeeper Köhn, who was falling out, slammed the ball in his leg. Wöber was also the unfortunate godfather.
Lewandowski scores a hat trick
Lewandowski’s hat-trick after 22 minutes was the fastest in Champions League history. The last was Lewandowski in the 6-0 win against Red Star Belgrade in November 2019, when he even scored four times within a quarter of an hour. But it was more important in a knockout game against the young Salzburgers, who brutally pushed their limits but didn’t give up.
After the early clarification of the balance of power in his coaching zone, Bayern coach Nagelsmann was able to watch his eleven show off without any pressure. RB goalkeeper Köhn slipped Gnabry’s durable shot under his right hand. And three days after his first career own goal in the 1-1 draw against Leverkusen, Müller celebrated two goals with what was actually a weaker foot. It was his Champions League goals 51 and 52. More are to follow in the two knockout rounds before the final on May 28 in Paris.
