Resolute Reds down Frankfurt

FC Bayern enjoyed a successful dress rehearsal for the Champions League, beating Eintracht Frankfurt 4-1 on Saturday afternoon. FCB reserves captain Niklas Dorsch crowned his pro debut, handing his side the lead shortly before half-time. Sandro Wagner doubled the lead with a quarter-hour to go, but Frankfurt's Sébastien Haller replied immediately. Subs Rafinha and Niklas Süle closed out the meeting shortly before the final whistle.

The Bavarians started with Sven Ulreich in goal and Joshua Kimmich, Mats Hummels, Lars Lukas Mai and Juan Bernat in a back four. Sebastian Rudy anchored a midfield featuring Meritan Shabani, Corentin Tolisso, Dorsch and Franck Evina, with Sandro Wagner as the sole striker.

Jupp Heynckes shuffled his deck, handing playing time to a clutch of youngsters. Besides Mai, who started against Hannover last weekend, Dorsch, Evina and Shabani made their pro debuts. Rafinha replaced over from Kimmich at half-time, Thiago and Süle taking over from Shabani and Evina around the hour mark.

What a way to crown your pro debut

The 75,000 capacity crowd at the Allianz Arena saw a dour first half-hour. The sides felt each other out, Bayern dominating possession at first. Frankfurt's Luka Jovic tested Ulreich from 20 yards, Evina aiming too far at the other end. Visiting netminder Lukas Hradecky proved equal to a Wagner effort. Frankfurt slowly but surely got a grip on the contest and were in the driving seat after the half-hour.

Eintracht's dominance resulted in two gilt-edged chances. Mijat Gacinovic fired just wide from 15 yards following a counter. Barely two minutes later Jovic ghosted past the rearguard and had only Ulreich to beat, and Bayern had to thank their shot-stopper for keeping the scores level with a fine save. But Bayern soon had the home crowd on their feet, Wagner shining with a strong first touch and perceptively setting up Dorsch, the 20-year-old proving a cool customer and slotting home from eight yards.

Late burst

The visitors went looking for a reply after the interval, Jovic just missing a da Costa cross in Bayern's box. Heynckes' troops upped the ante now, Thiago firing over the bar before Wagner glanced a header wide. Wagner doubled the lead following a fine Rudy pass with a quarter-hour to go, but just as it looked as if Bayern had put the game to bed, Eintracht had the ball in the back of the net when Haller converted a da Costa cross.

Both sides went on the attack now, Rafinha firing past Hradecky after Thiago's brilliant through-ball. Hradecky proved equal to a Tolisso effort but was powerless to prevent Süle blasting into the far corner of the net, and match official Christian Dingert blew for full time.

The result takes Bayern onto 81 points from 32 matches. The Reds are back in action in just three days, when they face Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final return leg at the Bernabéu, where they will be looking to overturn a 2-1 deficit.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen