There are no easy weeks for the record champions at the moment. The workload and injuries are forcing coach Hansi Flick to rotate the squad towards the end of the year - but that isn't causing any problems! If Robert Lewandowski and Co. aren't on the field, there's always someone in the top-class Bayern squad who can step up to the plate!
Süle's premiere at the perfect time
Süle converted the corner taken by Douglas Costa to make it 1-0.
And so it was a rather unusual goalscorer in Niklas Süle, who set Bayern on their way to the finishing line in the 2-0 win against Lokomotiv Moscow on Wednesday evening. The tall central defender had never scored in the Champions League, but hardly challenged at the back, he went on the attack and beat the Russian defence after a long spell of possession by the hosts.
In the 63rd minute, the 25-year-old was on hand with a bullet header and scored his first Champions League goal in his 25th appearance in the competition. "Thanks to Hermann Gerland, for the heading drills," said the defensive giant with a smile after the game. His goal rewarded Bayern's offensive drive. "I'm very happy we finished the group with a win today because we've been incredibly strong in this competition in 2020," said Süle. The Germany international was also the matchwinner when he scored his last competitive goal in the 1-0 win against Werder Bremen in April 2019.
Choupo-Moting sets an example
After his goal, Choupo-Moting showed the “Black Lives Matter” sign and took a stand against racism.
Spurred on by Süle's attack power, the striker in the team followed suit. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting made sure of the win in the 80th minute with his first Champions League goal in the FCB jersey. "Everyone loves to play in the Champion League. It's the biggest stage. First and foremost, the most important thing is that we succeed and win," summed up the 31-year-old. "And if you can contribute a goal yourself, you're even happier."
Flick has a choice
The two goalscorers symbolised the team unity that has distinguished the record champions in the UCL this year: Süle and Choupo-Moting are already the tenth and eleventh FC Bayern goalscorers in the competition - no other team has so many this season. So rotation is not so bad for Flick.
Review Hansi Flick & Co.'s statements on the Moscow game here:
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