Four days after a 4-3 friendly victory against Lippstadt FC Bayern won the second match of their pre-season programme, and this time the Reds took on heavyweight opponents Manchester City in what could easily pass for a mouth-watering Champions League encounter. FC Bayern reserves midfielder Erdal Öztürk scored the 75th-minute match-winner with a deflected 20-yard effort as Carlo Ancelotti's home debut against his predecessor Pep Guardiola ended in a deserved 1-0 victory for the German record champions. The 68,000 crowd at the Allianz Arena gave Guardiola a warm welcome in an early reunion after the Catalan left to take charge of the Premier League outfit.
The Bayern starting line-up featured Sven Ulreich in goal and Rafinha, reserve defender Nicolas Feldhahn, Javi Martinez, David Alaba and Juan Bernat in a nominal back five. Philipp Lahm, Xavi Alonso, Franck Ribéry and Julian Green took up station in midfield, with Fabian Benko acting as the target man.
The only changes to the side Ancelotti fielded against Lippstadt in the first preseason friendly four days ago were the introduction of Feldhahn and Alaba, who made his first appearance after the summer break. The pair replaced Arjen Robben, who is sidelined with injury, and Felix Götze.
City's starting XI featured a handful of star names including seasoned centre-back Aleksandar Kolarov, Brazilian midfield duo Fernando and Fernandinho, and burly striker Jesus Navas.
The German record champions dominated the meeting from the start, setting up sustained passing combinations and mainly attacking down the left wing. Ribéry and Green in particular turned in impressive displays, with the French ace constantly posing a threat on the wing and Green fighting a private duel with City keeper Willy Caballero in the first half.
After five minutes Green was unable to convert a relatively simple chance after a Ribéry cross, before Caballero denied the US international twice around the half-hour mark. The FCB reserve striker was also a shade unlucky to have a 31st-minute effort chalked off for offside. The young Sky Blues side created little by way of clear-cut openings, Nigerian hopeful Kelechi Iheanacho coming closest with a looping shot onto the roof of the net.
After half-time Ancelotti handed playing time to a number of youngsters, replacing the likes of Alonso, Alaba and Ribéry. With many youngsters taking over from the more experienced players on both sides, the pace dropped a shade. Before the hour mark Hägler was denied by Angus Gunn, who came on for Caballero between the sticks at half-time. Shortly afterwards Benko tried to set up Green, but gave the ball a shade too much weight. With a quarter-hour to go, Bayern youngster Öztürk scored the only goal in the contest from the edge of the box, City's Gael Clichy deflecting the ball so that Gunn was unable to save.
On Saturday the Bavarians cross swords with SpVgg Landshut before setting off for the AUDI Summer Tour USA from 25 July.
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