Bayern down Mainz and advance to quarters

FC Bayern beat Mainz 4-0 on Wednesday night to advance to the DFB Cup quarter-finals. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sané rewarded Bayern's dominance with a comfortable lead before half-time, Alphonso Davies sealing the final scoreline in the closing stages.

Bayern started with Yann Sommer in goal and Benjamin Pavard, Dayot Upamecano and Matthijs de Ligt in defence. Joshua Kimmich anchored a midfield featuring new signing João Cancelo, Kingsley Coman, Thomas Müller, Musiala and Sané, with Choupo-Moting up front. Daley Blind, Ryan Gravenberch, Davies, Leon Goretzka and Serge Gnabry came on for Upamecano, Müller, Cancelo, Sané and Choupo-Moting in the second half.

First-half dominance

Munich were dominant from the off, and Choupo-Moting put a header wide before Sané miscued an effort. Coman saw a shot saved and a Musiala effort was blocked but Cancelo soon shone with a pinpoint cross to the far stick, Choupo-Moting beating keeper Finn Dahmen with a volley from a tight angle.

Müller then teed up Musiala, whose shot found the net via the inside of the far post. Kimmich hit the post from a free-kick but Choupo-Moting soon flicked on a long ball to Sané, who fired past Dahmen to make it three before half-time.

Davies on target

Mainz got a grip after the interval, making the second half a more balanced affair. Dahmen got enough of a hand to a Müller effort, allowing it to be cleared off the line by a defender before de Ligt blocked a shot at the other end. Anthony Caci fired wide and Sommer made a routine save from Ludovic Ajorque before Aymen Barkok blasted over.

Dahmen denied Davies and Gravenberch as the pendulum swung the other way again, Kimmich forcing another save from the custodian, but Kimmich's fine chip soon invited Davies to round off the final scoreline with a towering header. Alexander Hack was sent off for a second bookable offence before the game petered out as Bayern booked their spot in the last eight for 2022/23.

Bayern will learn the identity of their next cup opponents on 19 February. The Bavarians will be back in action on Sunday when they travel to face Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen