Bayern celebrate in their final pre-season friendly against AS Monaco. - © IMAGO/kolbert-press

bundesliga

Bayern Munich see off Monaco to complete pre-season preparations

07.08.2023

Thomas Tuchel's men can turn their focus to Saturday's Supercup challenge against Leipzig after pre-season preparations concluded with victory against Monaco.

Bayern Munich 4-2 AS Monaco
Goals: 0-1 Minamino 29' (assist: Ben Yedder), 1-1 Laimer 32' (assist: Musiala), 2-1 Musiala 42' (assist: Davies), 3-1 Gnabry (pen.) 45', 3-2 Ben Yedder (pen.) 64', 4-2 Sane 68' (assist: Coman)

With the likes of Manuel Neuer, Thomas Müller and Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting among the injured absentees and Joshua Kimmich rested, Bayern nontheless went into the their last friendly game before the start of the season in confident mood on the back of some solid pre-season work. Serge Gnabry twice tested Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Köhn early on yet despite the early Bayern pressure, it was the Ligue 1 side that took the lead. Takumi Minamino applied the finish following a Wissam Ben Yedder assist, but Thomas Tuchel's side were quick to respond. Konrad Laimer's neat exchange with Jamal Musiala led to the former scoring superbly at the near post. Alphonso Davies then released Musiala who danced his way through prior to netting from close range. When Gnabry converted a penalty towards the end of the half, the Bavarians were in command at the break.

Bayern introduced Matthijs de Ligt and Leroy Sane for the second half and the record champions maintained their flow. When Mathys Tel struck a post, it seemed only a matter of time until the Bundesliga side had a fourth. However, after Noussair Mazraoui tripped Minamino in the box, Monaco had a lifeline, which Ben Yedder grabbed from the spot. After a raft of Bayern changes, Sane restored his team's two-goal cushion with a shot from the right that went across Köhn. Sven Ullreich made a smart stop from former Bayer Leverkusen forward Kevin Volland before the end but Bayern would hold out for a solid win that will instill plenty of belief ahead of Saturday's Supercup encounter against RB Leipzig.

Watch: Highlights of Bayern's 4-3 win over Liverpool

Match stats

Bayern won a record-extending 11th consecutive Bundesliga title last season.
They have been without goalkeeper Neuer since December, however, the captain missing 25 games since breaking his leg.
Serge Gnabry was Bayern's 14-goal top scorer in the Bundesliga last term.
Bayern have added three players to their squad this summer in Kim, Laimer and Raphael Guerreiro.
Volland is a familiar face for Bundesliga fans. He scored the joint-fastest goal in the league's history against Bayern in 2015, opening the scoring for Hoffenheim after just nine seconds.

Line-ups

Bayern: Ulreich – Mazraoui (Stanisic 65'), Pavard (de Ligt 46'), Kim (Upamecano 65'), Davies (Krätzig 65') – Laimer (Tikvic 74'), Goretzka (Pavlovic 74') – Coman (Ibrahimovic 74'), Musiala (Sane 46'), Tel (Wanner 83') – Gnabry (Gravenberch 65')
Unused subs: Hülsmann, Sarr
Out: Buchmann (hamstring), Choupo-Moting (knee), Guerreiro (calf), Müller (hip), Neuer (broken leg)
Coach: Thomas Tuchel

Monaco: Köhn - Vanderson (Akliouche 81'), Matsima, Maripan, Caio - Fofana, Camara (Matazo 77') - Minamino (Volland 69'), Magassa, Golovin (Efekele 82') - Ben Yedder (c) (Boadu 82')
Unused subs: Majecki, Lienard, Valme, Cartillier, Okou, Coulibaly
Out: Embolo (knee)
Coach: Adi Hütter