Yann Sommer was looking forward to his first real days in Munich as he quickly became familiar with FC Bayern’s ideas. His debut as the new number one for the record champions in their match against pursuer and supposed title challenger RB Leipzig ended in a 1-1 draw, which was satisfactory for him but nothing more. “We have to get back into the flow on Tuesday,” he announced.
Tuesday is the final game of the first half of the Bundesliga season for leaders FC Bayern at 1. FC Köln. Sports director Hasan Salihamidzic said they need to play with more aggression, intensity, and precision: “We still have something to do.”
The draw at least kept the cup winners from Saxony at a distance – there are still six points between them and FC Bayern like before the game. “In the end, the point might bring us a bit more because we were and are ahead in the table,” said coach Julian Nagelsmann. Joshua Kimmich added, “If you look at the table, Leipzig needed the win.”
Kimmich, who was worried about his mental state and dealing with the disgrace of Qatar after the bitter World Cup exit, was not his usual self against Leipzig. His bad pass in the build-up game preceded Marcel Halstenberg’s equalizer after Cameroon international Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting opened the scoring.
FC Bayern conceded the first goal in the first competitive game of the new year and in the debut of the summer, which had only been signed the day before. After the 2: 2 against Borussia Dortmund, the Munich team had a pre-World Cup series with six wins in a row and 24 goals. And they are looking to start a series again.
Due to the draw, Munich at least kept the cup winners from Saxony at a distance. There will be no other new staff, Salihamidzic made it clear, with the summer commitment for the long-term injured Manuel Neuer and Daley Blind, the winter transfers are complete.
Nagelsmann attested the Swiss player a very good game in a game without any major challenges and praised the presence and charisma of the goalkeeper, whom Bayern had brought in from rivals Borussia Mönchengladbach.
FC Bayern need to be more precise and intense as they look to get back into the pre-World Cup flow. They have the final game of the first half of the Bundesliga season at 1. FC Köln on Tuesday, and then the round of 16 first leg in the Champions League on February 14th against Paris Saint-Germain and Lionel Messi.
FC Bayern will have to get their fitness from the games and not think about what will happen if Neuer is fit again in the summer and Alexander Nübel increases Bayern’s goalkeeper contingent after his loan to AS Monaco.
Topics of the day: FC Bayern looking for the pre-World Cup flow.
