Sadio Mane on target as Bayern Munich ease into DFB Cup second round
Sadio Mane scored on his DFB Cup debut as Bayern Munich booked their place in the second round after overcoming third-tier side Viktoria Cologne 5-0 on Wednesday evening.
The game was far from the David vs. Goliath match-up that many predicted, however, particularly in the early exchanges, as the hosts boldly went on the front foot. Viktoria were aggressive in the tackles and frequently sought to get behind Bayern, and thought they had taken the lead in the 20th minute when Simon Handle lashed past Sven Ulreich from close range, only for it to be rightly disallowed for offside. The visitors’ class gradually began to show, however, with home goalkeeper Ben Voll making several fine stops before Ryan Gravenberch broke the deadlock on 35 minutes after good work from Thomas Müller. Gravenberch was involved again as Bayern extended their lead on the stroke of half-time, feeding Mathys Tel to rifle in a brilliant maiden goal for Julian Nagelsmann’s side.
Bayern began the second period with intent, eager to capitalise on their advantage and effectively kill the tie off as a contest. After making Viktoria chase the game for the opening few minutes, Mane pounced to tap in a Serge Gnabry pass following Joshua Kimmich’s brilliant ball over the top. Jamal Musiala made sure of Bayern’s place in the next round with a clinical finish just moments after coming off the bench, exchanging quick passes with Müller before coolly slotting past Voll. They added further gloss to the scoreline late on as Leon Goretzka made it 5-0 on his comeback from knee surgery, striding forward from midfield to place a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Match stats
Mane has scored five times in six competitive outings for Bayern.
The Africa Cup of Nations champion has previously won domestic cups in England and Austria, scoring 13 times in 17 appearances across the FA Cup and ÖFB Cup.
Müller is now level second with Oliver Kahn for appearances among Bayern players past or present (632), behind only Sepp Maier (702).
The last time Bayern fell at the first hurdle in the cup was in 1994/95 (1-0 vs. Vestenbergsgreuth), but they have failed to get beyond the second round in the last two years.
Bayern won their only previous competitive encounter with Viktoria 3-1 in the 1979/80 DFB Cup second round.
Marcel Risse made 176 Bundesliga appearances for Bayer Leverkusen, Nuremberg, Mainz and Cologne, including 11 against Bayern.
DFB Pokal First round First round RheinEnergieStadion
BAYERN EASE INTO NEXT ROUND
The scoreline is perhaps a touch harsh on Viktoria, who played valiantly throughout and refused to let their heads hang - or simply sit back and defend - even the second half. Ultimately though, Bayern's quality was just too much for them to handle and Julian Nagelsmann's side seal their place in the second round.
As a side note to today's game, the return of Goretzka and Gravenberch's impressive performance, including a goal and an assist, mean the competition for places in Bayern's central midfield is now at its fiercest, with Marcel Sabitzer also in the mix for the remaining berth alongside Kimmich.
Viktoria go close to getting a consolation as Sontheimer wins the ball deep in Bayern's half, strides forward and smacks a swerving shot at goal that Ulreich does well to fist clear.
FIRST OF MANE
The Bayern striker was left with a simple finish for his first DFB Cup goal.
Musiala has only been on the pitch a couple of minutes but he's scored already. He drives forward from midfield, exchanges a quick pass with Müller and slots the ball coolly into the bottom corner.
The youngster gets his head to the ball at the back post following a cross from the right but it bounces just wide of the post!
53'
MANE ON THE SCORESHEET
That's surely put Bayern out of sight now. Kimmich pings a long ball from deep over the Viktoria defence to pick out Gnabry's run. The Germany international controls the ball inside the box, draws the goalkeeper to him and then lays it off for the unmarked Mane to tap in from close range.
Bayern are looking to put this game to bed as soon as possible and are absolutely dominating at present, not allowing Viktoria to get out of their own half.
46'
UNDER WAY AGAIN
Mane gets the ball rolling in the second half. No changes on either side at the break.
Kick-off!
GAME OVER?
Anything can happen in football but you'd be a brave person to bet against Bayern progressing to the second round of the cup now. Viktoria Cologne have played very well so far and caused their visitors a few problems, but those goals from Gravenberch and Tel will surely prove too big a mountain for the third-tier side to climb.
There appears to be relatively little danger as Gravenberch collects the ball wide on the left. He plays it to Tel, on the left-hand edge of the box, and he jinks in between two defenders and curls a sumptuous shot inside the far post with the last kick of the half!
Kimmich spies Gnabry's diagonal run on the right and slices a ball through the defence to find him. Gnabry slips as he tries to run though, and the flag is up for a marginal offside anyway.
40'
FREE-KICK FOR BAYERN
Müller is fouled about 10 yards outside the Viktoria box, almost in an identical position to the free-kick Kimmich took moments earlier. He takes this one too, playing it quickly into the box looking for Mane, but it lacks the accuracy to find his teammate.
35'
BAYERN LEAD!
It's hard not to feel a touch sorry for Viktoria, who have played so admirably so far. There's a huge slice of luck involved too as Müller's pass is deflected into the path of Gravenberch, who sweeps in from close range for his first Bayern goal.
Bayern win a free-kick about 30 yards out in a central position. Kimmich curls it towards the top corner but Voll was clearly watching Yann Sommer in Bayern's draw with Borussia Mönchengladbach, and the Viktoria custodian makes another fine save.
28'
VOLL THE WALL
Gravenberch unleashes a swerving shot from 25 yards that the Viktoria goalkeeper does well to parry wide. Bayern recycle possession from the rebound and work the ball to Kimmich on the edge of the area, but Voll pulls off another fine stop from his shot.
MAKING MISCHIEF
Mathys Tel has been lively in attack for Bayern so far.
For a moment it looks like the impossible has happened as the ball rattles into Ulreich's net but the referee's assistant's flag rightly goes up for offside against Handle.
19'
VOLL TO THE RESCUE AGAIN!
Tel twists and turns before getting a shot away from a central position but Voll again dives to his left to keep the ball out.
16'
TEL HAS A GO!
Bayern's first chance of the game falls to their teenage summer signing, but his curling effort from the edge of the box is pawed clear by Voll.
15'
MAZRAOUI PROBING
The right-back links up with Müller down the right as they try to forge a way through the home rearguard, but he's unceremoniously bumped off the ball.
13'
CORNER FOR VIKTORIA
Risse delivers from the left but doesn't catch it well and it's cleared at the near post.
10'
SO FAR, SO GOOD
The hosts will be delighted to still be level after the first 10 minutes, even if Bayern have gradually been getting behind their defence more and more in the last couple of minutes.
6'
VIKTORIA UNFAZED
Credit to the third-tier side here for the way they've started - they're not intimidated by the big names on the other side of the pitch in the slightest, thundering into tackles with the likes of Kimmich and Gnabry, and playing probing balls behind the defence to get Hernandez, De Ligt and Co. running towards their own goal.
3'
BAYERN PRESSING
The visitors, dressed all in white, are dominating the early exchanges, as you might expect. Viktoria, to their credit, are boldly trying to play their way through the press and out from the back. They've managed admirably well so far...
1'
HERE WE GO!
The ball is rolling in Cologne!
Kick-off!
THE VENUE
Instead of their 8,000-capacity Sportpark Höhenberg, Viktoria are playing at Cologne's 50,000 RheinEnergieStadion to cater for demand. Gate receipts are usually split in the DFB Cup, but Bayern will donate 50 percent of their share to Viktoria. "Many clubs are suffering from the consequences of the pandemic, and FC Bayern have always been renowned for supporting troubled clubs," said president Herbert Hainer ahead of what should be a sell-out contest.
3:40
WATCH: MR. BAYERN
Thomas Müller makes his 632nd competitive appearance for boyhood club Bayern. He's now level with current CEO Oliver Kahn on the club's list of all-time record appearance-makers. Sepp Maier tops the pile on 702 games.
NAGELSMANN'S TAKE
"Viktoria have an experienced coach and experienced players. They did well against Hoffenheim in the cup last year. In the league they play a very bold game, they press high but can also defend deep. They can play their way out and they want to play football in the league, but at the same time are good on the second balls and dangerous at set pieces. It won't be an easy game. It's a great setting with the stadium and the big crowd."
RECORD WINNERS
Bayern have won the DFB Cup a record 20 times, but have gone out in the second round in each of the last two seasons. They were beaten on penalties by Bundesliga 2’s Holstein Kiel in 2020/21, and lost 5-0 to Gladbach last term. The Bavarians haven't fallen at the first hurdle since a 1-0 loss to TSV Vestenbergsgreuth in the 1994/95 edition, though.
MORE ON THOSE TEAMS
Nagelsmann hands starting debuts to summer signings Noussair Mazraoui, Ryan Gravenberch and Mathys Tel. Goalkeeper Sven Ulreich, centre-back Matthijs de Ligt, full-back Josip Stanisic and forward Serge Gnabry also get the nod. Leon Goretzka returns to the squad for the first time this season following injury, taking his place alongside the likes of Manuel Neuer and Leroy Sane on a strong Bayern bench.
Reigning Bundesliga champions and 2020 DFB Cup winners Bayern Munich get their campaign up and running today as they take on third-division outfit Viktoria Cologne in a rescheduled first-round fixture that was moved due to Bayern's involvement in the DFL Supercup at the end of July.
