Gnabry fires Bayern to victory over Marseille

FC Bayern beat Olympique Marseille 1-0 in Friday's Audi Football Summit, enjoying a successful dress rehearsal for the Champions League. Serge Gnabry scored the only goal of the game in the first half.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and a back four of Joshua Kimmich, Jérôme Boateng, David Alaba and Alphonso Davies. Thiago and Leon Goretzka featured in a twin holding role behind Gnabry, Thomas Müller and Ivan Perišić, with Robert Lewandowski up front. Coach Hansi Flick comprehensibly shuffled his deck in the second half. Most notably, Niklas Süle took over from Boateng on the hour mark, making his comeback after 285 days on the sidelines.

Serge opens

Bayern took the initiative once match official Dr Felix Brych had set events in motion at the FC Bayern Campus, forcing a string of corners. Goretzka directed a header wide before the offside flag stifled Olympique's first chance at the other end. Bouna Sarr let fly from 25 yards but miscued before Gnabry sidestepped two opponents to fire home and put Bayern in front.

The home side dominated proceedings but often failed to deliver the final pass. Gnabry's low cross evaded Perišić, and keeper Steve Mandanda's saves against Kimmich, Müller and Davies meant Bayern were only one up at half-time.

Quiet second half

Bayern were still dominant after the restart, Tolisso and Lewandowski firing over, Coutinho aiming wide from 20 yards. The match ebbed as both coaches made a string of changes. Cuisance drew a save from Mandanda before seeing an effort blocked, but another goal refused to come, and Brych blew for full time.

The Bavarians will be back in action on 8 August, when they entertain Chelsea in the Champions League last sixteen return leg.

Live match report for fcbayern.comby Greg Salmen