TSG lose intense opening match

Personnel and tactics:

Coach Julian Nagelsmann opted to make one change to the starting XI that beat Kaiserslautern 6-1 in the DFB Cup, selecting Florian Grillitsch ahead of Steven Zuber in the central defensive midfield role, though the 3-5-2 formation remained the same. Oliver Baumann lined up between the sticks behind a back three of Ermin Bicakcic, Kevin Vogt and Kasim Adams, with Pavel Kaderabek (right) and Nico Schulz (left) occupying the two wing-back berths. Leonardo Bittencourt, Grillitsch and Vincenzo Grifo formed the midfield trio, with the duo of Adam Szalai and Joelinton getting the nod in the centre-forward positions.

Bayern boss Niko Kovac made three changes to the side that defeated Drochtersen/Assel 1-0 in the DFB Cup, with Rafinha, Mats Hummels and Arjen Robben making way for David Alaba, Niklas Süle and Kingsley Coman. While no summer signings featured in the Bayern starting XI, Nagelsmann opted to field newcomers Adams, Grifo and Bittencourt in his line-up, as well as Joelinton, who returned from a loan spell at Rapid Vienna in the summer.

TSG stuck to their tactical gameplan against the champions, despite the significant pressure exerted by Kovac's charges. "Hoffe" played a passionate and tough-tackling game, with referee Bastian Dankert opting for a strict interpretation of the rules and showing the quartet of Adams, Bittencourt, Kaderabek and Schulz the yellow card. At the other end, goalscorer Thomas Müller went into the referee's notebook for an overzealous challenge on Bittencourt in first-half stoppage time.

In the second period Nagelsmann brought off Grifo and replaced him with Swiss international Zuber. TSG tried to adopt a more attacking mindset after the restart and, even though Bayern remained dangerous after Arjen Robben had replaced the injured Coman, Nagelsmann's team now looked the braver of the two sides as they piled pressure on the favourites. Following a quick move initiated by Bicakcic, they got their just reward. Adam Szalai levelled the scores at 1-1, having been set up by a pass made by Bicakcic as he tumbled to the ground.

TSG did not sit back and instead tried to take the lead, but Nagelsmann did need to make a couple of changes − Kevin Akpoguma replaced Kasim Adams, who made a tough-tackling Bundesliga debut, while Havard Nordtveit came on for the injured Kevin Vogt − to shore up the defence. The back three lacked stability after the personnel changes, yet the visitors could still consider themselves unlucky to concede what seemed like an undeserved penalty for Bayern. But referee Dankert did not adjudge Ribery to have dived, instead penalising Nordtveit for a foul. The video assistant referee was not deployed for that incident, but was used moments later to review the taking of the spot-kick. After that, it was all Bayern.

Moment of the match:

Nordtveit's 78th-minute tackle on Ribery, who chipped the ball over the Norwegian before going to ground. Dankert still pointed to the spot, however.

The game in numbers:

3,500 (the number of TSG fans who accompanied the team to Munich)

 

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