Even before kick-off, there was a murmur around the Sportpark Unterhaching. The warm-up itself was a spectacle with the FC Bayern players proving to be deadly accurate in front of goal. Ball after ball ended up nestled in the corners of the net, with one player responsible being new signing João Palhinha. The Portuguese international carried this genius with him into the friendly against WSG Tirol, scoring with a marvellous volley after 48 minutes to make it 2-0. The 29-year-old provided the highlight of the day on his first start for FCB.
"It's always a special feeling when you score. I'm proud to be here and enjoying myself," said the goalscorer after the final whistle. Sporting director Christoph Freund praised the midfield enforcer: "He's settled in well and is a true professional. We are very happy that we were able to bring him on board. He's fitting in very well with the team and it's nice that he was able to score his first goal today."
Vidović & Co: Youngsters make their mark
In addition to Palhinha, striker Harry Kane made a lively and hungry impression in his 45-minute appearance, opening the scoring after four minutes. Technician Gabriel Vidović also grabbed a goal against the Austrian first division side. The 20-year-old had already scored in the 2-1 friendly win against Tottenham Hotspur in Seoul and can therefore look back on a successful pre-season. The Croatian's goal (81’) was perfectly set up by the lightning-quick Nestory Irankunda.
Academy products impress
In general, the dress rehearsal against the Tyroleans served as a showcase for the youngsters as well as giving experienced players some game time. Whether it was Vidović, Irankunda, Adin Ličina or Adam Aznou - the starlets did a good job. "They were able to show what they can do," said Palhinha, while Freund added: "Some young players took part from the start and were able to give a good account of themselves. It's nice for them to get some minutes with the first teamers."
Complete commitment and a goal to boot - Gabriel Vidović impressed against Tirol.
Looking ahead to Ulm
The pre-season is now over, and the first competitive match of the 2024/25 season awaits Bayern on Friday evening. They will travel to SSV Ulm 1846 in the first round of the cup and are seeking to carry forth the momentum of recent weeks, in which FCB did not lose a single match and presented exciting new signings, into competitive wins.
"We are very happy with our squad," said Freund. "We were able to finalise our additions quite early on, which was very important. We have a good spirit, a good energy. We're really looking forward to Friday. It's an important knockout game right away." Goalscorer Palhinha, who was visibly delighted after his goal on Tuesday and pointed to the Bayern crest, believes Munich are “ready for Friday", adding: "We have an amazing team and can achieve a lot." In the 2024/25 season, the Portuguese and his colleagues will hope to be the cause of many more murmurs around stadiums because of their displays on the pitch.
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