Bayern in commanding win over Chelsea

FC Bayern put their disappointing 4-0 loss to AC Milan well behind them in Singapore with a commanding 3-2 victory over Chelsea. In a match we could well see again on a Tuesday night later this season in the Champions League, the champions of Germany were much the superior side against their English counterparts. The Reds rushed into a 3-0 lead thanks a goal from Rafinha and a brace from captain Thomas Müller. Marcos Alonso got one back for the Blues before the break.

Bayern were again in command for the second half with the vast majority of the chances, but despite the best attacking efforts of James Rodriguez could not extend their lead. Michy Batshuayi did manage to get one back for Chelsea late on from a corner, but it was not enough to force the match to penalties.

Strong line-up despite injuries

Carlo Ancelotti had a number of injuries to contend with ahead of Bayern’s third friendly match of this pre-season tour. Thiago and Juan Bernat are both already back in Munich recovering from injuries alongside Manuel Neuer, Jerome Boateng and Arjen Robben, none of whom travelled to the Far East. However, Ancelotti was still able to name a strong attacking lune-up against his former club. Just like against Arsenal, Robert Lewandowski led the line ahead of James, skipper Thomas Müller and Franck Ribery.

Youthful exuberance was the order of the day in the centre of the field with Renato Sanches lining up alongside new signing Corentin Tolisso in midfield. With David Alaba being given a rest from the start in Singapore, Marco Friedl started at left-back alongside the familiar defensive trio of Javi Martinez, Mats Hummels and Rafinha. Tom Starke returned in goal replacing Christian Früchtl.

Reds race into lead, captain Müller with brace

The Bavarians were eager to show a reaction to their recent defeat and were quickest out of the blocks in Singapore, only needing five minutes to take the lead through probably one of the most unlikely sources. Rafinha drove forward unopposed from his position at right-back before seeing his chance and firing one from over 20 yards into the far corner past a helpless Thibaut Courtois. The German champions then doubled their lead on 12 minutes when Ribery broke free down the left, drawing Courtois off his line before chipping a ball to the far post for Müller to simply tap in.

It could have and likely should have been three after only 18 minutes when James found himself completely unmarked at the far post, brought the ball down with his chest and looked to side-foot the half-volley into the far corner. However, the Colombian got a little too much on the effort and it went just a fraction too high over the corner of the goal. The third did come just before the half-hour mark as captain Müller notched up his second of the game with a curving and dipping effort from outside following a run from inside his own half to put the German champions well in control even before the water break in the 30-degree Singapore heat. Chelsea did have a burst in the closing stages of the first half and Marcos Alonso got one back for the English champions with the last kick of the half after a cross from Victor Moses.

Chances for James, Reds see it out

Ancelotti made just two changes at the break with Christian Früchtl on for Starke in net and Kingsley Coman on for Robert Lewandowski. Thomas Müller moved into the lone striker position with Coman on the right. The opening phase of the second half lacked the initial drive of the first but James Rodriguez had two further golden chances around the hour mark to open his FCB account. The first was an unmarked header inside the box which he put wide of Courtois’ goal, whilst the second saw him denied by the late slide of Gary Cahill as the Colombian looked to slot the ball into the far corner with his left foot.

Chances four and five for the new signing came and went in the ensuing minutes. The fourth was a snapshot from the left side of the box, which narrowly went wide of the far post, and the fifth came after a marauding run from Ribery through the heart of the Blues’ defence, with James’ subsequent effort saved by goalkeeper Courtois. Chelsea had their first real effort of the second half when Luiz’s shot from 25 yards was deflected by Martinez, but it hit the outside of the post and away to safety. Batshuayi did manage a late goal from a corner to create a bit of tension towards the end, but the Reds stood firm and saw the game out for their first win of the 2017 Audi Summer Tour.

The record German champions bring their Asian tour to an end on Thursday with their fourth and final fixture in the International Champions Cup against Inter Milan. The match will once again be at the National Stadium in Singapore with kick-off at 13:30 CEST.