Ribery hat-trick in 5-3 victory

Bayern rounded off their preparations for the first half of the season with a 5-3 win over SG Sonnenhof Großaspach. Franck Ribery netted a hat-trick, while Kingsley Coman and Thomas Müller also got on the scoresheet for the Reds. A Saliou Sane penalty and strikes from Pascal Sohm and Mario Rodriguez all ensured equalisers for the third-tier side. FCB kick off the second half of the Bundesliga season on Friday night with a visit to Bayer Leverkusen (20:30 CET).

As well as long-term injury absentees Manuel Neuer and Thiago, Jupp Heynckes was also without Mats Hummels (adductor) and Robert Lewandowski (knee) after they only returned to team training earlier in the day. Joshua Kimmich set to be fit to feature after overcoming an illness, but in the end missed out due to minor back complaints. Heynckes deployed two completely different teams in each half against Großaspach.

Attractive game with brave visitors

Much to the pleasure of the 5,000 fans in attendance at the Allianz Arena, the game began at apace as the visitors looked to attack. It meant the side sitting seventh in the third division had the first chance but Sven Ulreich was not to be beaten. Bayern then had their first good chance of the game in the fourth minute when Coman struck the post from 12 yards.

The fans were finally given a goal to celebrate in the 33rd minute when Arjen Robben charged towards the goal-line before cutting back masterfully for Coman, who fired the ball home from short range. It should have been 2-0 moments later, however, Sandro Wagner was denied from a few yards out by the quick reactions from goalkeeper Kevin Broll and Corentin Tolisso failed to put the rebound past Yannick Thermann, who cleared off the line. Großaspach were able to level things up before the break when Sane converted from the spot following Jerome Boateng’s foul on Timo Röttger.

Second-half goal fest

The blue touch paper was lit in the second half as Meritan Shabani headed against the bar immediately after the restart. Moments later the U-19 attacker set up Müller to slot home and make it 2-1 five minutes into the second half. Bayern pressed the visitors back into their own half but a mistake in the build-up play saw Sohm take advantage with a strike from over 35 yards to equalise once again. Tom Starke was off his line and wanted to intercept the ball, but the striker kept his cool to find the back of the net.

It did not take long though for Ribery to give Bayern the lead once again with some brilliant individual play. However, Großaspach hit back again just two minutes later when Rodriguez’s unstoppable effort beat Starke from 20 yards at the near post. It was the signal that the goal fest had truly begun and Ribery’s second put FCB ahead once more only two minutes later. Bayern were able to up the ante then and increased the lead to 5-3 through Ribery’s third. Heynckes’ side were not content there and continued to attack. Shabani and Ribery in particular were heavily involved, just the goal was missing. The best opportunity came to Manuel Wintzheimer shortly before the final whistle, but he could not force the ball over the line at the far post.