A great stadium, a pulsating match, nine goals and a glorious win for FC Bayern! The Champions League group game at Tottenham Hotspur produced much more than anyone connected to the club hoped for beforehand. “We witnessed a memorable night today,” said Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, opening the banquet following the team’s impressive 7-2 triumph over last season’s runners-up.
“It was incredible what we experienced today,” continued the Bayern chairman. To start with, it didn’t look like the evening would turn out that way. Tottenham started the match well, took the lead through Heing-Min Son in the 12th minute and had other good chances. “Manuel Neuer kept us in the game there,” said sporting director Hasan Salihamidžić, praising the Bayern captain’s strong saves.
Brilliant second half
However, the German record champions seized control of the game around the half-hour mark and went in front before the break thanks to goals from Joshua Kimmich (15) and Robert Lewandowski (45). “The goals came at the right time,” analysed Niko Kovač. Lifted by that, his team came out flying in the second half.
An unbelievable four-goal haul from Serge Gnabry (53, 55, 83, 88) plus another strike from Lewandowski (87) increased the scoreline, and not even a Harry Kane penalty to make it 4-2 (61) could stop Bayern. “The second half performance was unprecedented,” lauded Kovač. "We dominated and dictated the tempo. The team carried out what we’d planned. It’s not every day you play like that here.“
“We want to produce that more often in the future"
Niko Kovač
In a strong collective performance, Gnabry’s four-goal haul stood out. “It’s a wonderful feeling to help the team with four goals,” said the match-winner. “They were my first four Champions League goals. I’ve not scored four goals in a game since I was playing under-8s, so it’s a magnificent evening for myself and the team.”
Naturally, there was a joyful mood at the post-match banquet, even though Bayern weren’t allowing themselves to get carried away. No one wants to rest on their laurels. “This was a great Champions League night for Bayern and we hope we can give the fans more moments like that this season,” commented Neuer. “We want to produce that more often in the future,” said Kovač, already looking ahead.
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