Unable to make any real in-roads against Copenhagen, FC Bayern had to settle for a goalless draw in the final home game of their 2023/24 Champions League group campaign.
"We have to accept the game as it was," commented captain Manuel Neuer. "The coach warned us we wouldn't have a lot of space and that's how it played out today. Copenhagen were well-organised and defended well."
The post-match numbers attest to the Danes' well-executed game plan. Bayern enjoyed 62 percent possession, whilst registering just nine goal attempts to the visitors' eight.
Müller: We didn't take enough risks
"We're not satisfied with the game. Particularly as an attacking player, I'm angry we failed to score a goal. We didn't take enough risks," admitted Thomas Müller, whose 30th-minute header was beaten away at close quarters by Copenhagen goalkeeper Kamil Grabara in perhaps the best chance of the contest.
Mathys Tel, Harry Kane and Leroy Sané also got decent shots off in a game otherwise short of clear-cut scoring opportunities. Bayern did have a late penalty decision overturned by the VAR, but not before Neuer had been called on to make a fabulous double save at the other end.
Although a defeat would not have gone down well, Bayern at least had the cushion of having already qualifed for the last 16 as section winners. The draw now makes it a record-extending 39 group games in a row without defeat.
Tuchel: We know what we have to work on
"Given the circumstances, I expected us to play more freely, but it was quite the opposite. We tried to manage the game too early and didn't put quite enough effort in," opined head coach Thomas Tuchel. "We'll take the point, knowing what we have to work on."
Bayern don't have to wait long for the chance to put the game behind them. Fellow Champions League participants Union Berlin visit the Allianz Arena on Saturday, with the record German champions determined to atone for their rare blank against Copenhagen. "We're annoyed we didn't win," said Neuer. "Any player who wears the red and white of Bayern is never happy with a 0-0 draw."
Watch the match highlights below:
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