How two-goal Tom Bischof led Bayern to victory against Freiburg

Tom Bischof couldn’t have picked a better moment for his first goals in FC Bayern colours. “It felt good to help the lads claim the win,” the 20-year-old said after setting Bayern on their way to victory at SC Freiburg. FCB were two goals down before Bischof bagged a brace (81’, 90’+2) and Lennart Karl scored Munich’s 100^th goal this Bundesliga season to seal three points. But for Bischof, the turnaround was anything but a coincidence: “We wouldn’t be Bayern if we didn’t always believe in ourselves,” said the left-back: “We absolutely wanted it.”

But Bischof had needed a bit of a warm-up until that moment. He took his 25^th shot this Bundesliga campaign after sidestepping Freiburg’s Yuito Suzuki after 80 minutes and pulled one back with his right foot. It was his first shot that went in. “I’ve been told many times to take a shot. I often missed the right moment,” said Bischof: “But today I just did it and it worked out pretty well. I’m very glad to have scored my first goal for Bayern.”

One with his right, one with his left

It wasn’t his last – also because the summer signing was extremely versatile. His second goal to level the scores in added time was like a mirror image: from a similar distance, he fired into the far corner of the net with his left foot. The good advice before the match was no coincidence. Bischof had demonstrated his finishing skills before joining Munich. Since the beginning of the previous season, when the all-rounder still played for Hoffenheim, he has scored six Bundesliga goals from outside the box. Only Harry Kane (seven) has been more dangerous from distance since then.

But the striker was sidelined with a knock, so it was crucial that Tom Bischof helped out. The designated goal-getters wouldn’t have scored as they usually do, commented Max Eberl: “And then Tom came with his two very clever shots.” It was only a matter of time before the talented youngster would break the deadlock, according to Bayern’s board member for sport: “He has a very good left foot. He just often lacked the confidence to take a shot. Now he did, and it was very clever and precise.”

Confidence for Real

Bischof’s strong display against Freiburg has left him eager for more – especially ahead of Bayern’s tough challenges: “Such a match is perfect ahead of the one against Real. We’re seeing what a team we are. We stick together, that really binds us together.” Three days before the Champions League quarter-final first leg in Madrid, the youngster put in a strong case for a place in the starting line-up at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu – and for Bischof, “it would be a dream to play in a match like this. I’m really looking forward to it. It’s a cracker, it’ll be intense, and I hope we’ll come out on top.” It might work out with a clinical finisher like Tom Bischof.