FCB claim Telekom Cup with win over Mainz

FC Bayern won the Telekom Cup for the third time with a 2-1 victory over Bundesliga rivals FSV Mainz in the 2017 final in front of a 41,000 crowd in Düsseldorf on Saturday afternoon, Franck Ribery and Javi Martinez scoring the goals for Carlo Ancelotti’s side. In the half-day tournament of 45-minute matches Munich had earlier beaten hosts Fortuna on penalties to reach the final, with Mainz overcoming Mönchengladbach 1-0 in the other semi.

Coach Ancelotti made three changes to the team that overcame second division Fortuna in the first of the Reds’ two matches on the day, with Renato Sanches, Mats Hummels and skipper Philipp Lahm coming in for Xabi Alonso, Juan Bernat and Rafinha. It meant Bayern lined up with Manuel Neuer in goal, David Alaba, Martínez, Hummels and Lahm in defence, Joshua Kimmich, Sanches and Arturo Vidal in midfield, and Ribéry, Thomas Müller and Douglas Costa in attack.

FCB named only six substitutes due to a number of absentees: Thiago and Jerome Boateng with injury, Kingsley Coman due to a lack of match fitness, and Arjen Robben and Robert Lewandowski with illness.

Early goals see Reds home

The league leaders wasted no time after referee Benjamin Bläser whistled the game underway under the Esprit Arena’s closed roof and on a freshly-laid pitch, taking a fourth-minute lead with the first chance of the contest when Ribery fired past Mainz keeper Jannik Huth following a slick exchange of passes with Müller.

It was certainly an all-action start and Martin Schmidt’s team were level four minutes later when André Ramalho surprised Neuer with a thunderous 25-yard belter, but Ancelotti’s men replied in the 11th minute through Martinez’ bullet header from a Kimmich corner. Vidal stepped up now to impose his considerable presence on the game and the Bavarians had matters well under control by the halfway mark.

FSV rallied on the half-hour and Neuer was twice forced to dash outside his box and clear, but the action soon switched to the other end with both Costa and Martinez coming close. Young Fabian Benko replaced Vidal for the last nine minutes, with Costa testing Huth from a free-kick before reserve Marco Friedl took over from Ribery at the end of a narrow but merited win.

Chris Hamley reporting from the Esprit Arena for fcbayern.com

FC Bayern - FSV Mainz 2-1