Bayern signed off for the two-week international break on Sunday with an entertaining victory in a benefit match in aid of victims of the catastrophic summer flooding in parts of Bavaria. A 12,000 crowd saw the treble winners defeat a Passau regional XI 5-1, but even more importantly, chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and FCB president Uli Hoeneß handed over a cheque for €250,000 in aid before kick-off at the Dreiflüssestadion.
Mitchell Weiser (2), Christian Derflinger (23) and Xherdan Shaqiri scored for Pep Guardiola’s weakened but still dominant side before half-time. Derflinger completed his brace on 77 minutes and Tobias Schweinsteiger netted a penalty six minutes from time, before Michael Pillmeier scored the hosts’ consolation with a minute left.
Just two days after winning the UEFA Super Cup in Prague, Guardiola was without a host of injured and absent stars. The coach made a virtue out of necessity, opting to take a look at a number of promising reserve players, stiffened by a clutch of experienced professionals. The team captained by Rafinha duly took the lead after 90 seconds, Weiser heading home a Tobias Schweinsteiger cross.
The men from Munich comfortably controlled the match after that, but failed to take a string of promising chances. Passau’s first-half keeper Max Putz was in fine form, saving well from Weiser (8), Derflinger (8, 41, 43), Sieghart (8) and Schweinsteiger (33, 44), with Derflinger also hitting the bar just before the break.
For all Putz’ heroics, FCB were deservedly 3-0 ahead by the end of the first period. Derflinger made it two with a deflected shot in the 23rd minute, with Shaqiri adding the third in first-half stoppage time. Bayern continued to apply the pressure in the second period, with Derflinger completing his brace from a Weiser assist, and Schweinsteiger atoning for a 62nd-minute penalty miss with a better effort from the spot after 84 minutes. But with a minute left to play, Pillmeier brought the boisterous crowd to its feet with a consolation goal for the regional team.
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