Bayern show the maturity needed to progress

A subtle smile played across Vincent Kompany’s face as the final whistle blew at Bremer Brücke late on Wednesday evening. Joshua Kimmich gave a thumbs-up to the travelling fans, whilst Harry Kane glanced down briefly and seemed content in the moment. Then the FC Bayern players high-fived one another and headed towards the away supporters’ block.

Job done at VfL Osnabrück. Through to the second round of the DFB Cup. That was exactly what was at stake in FC Bayern’s 4–1 win against the newly promoted Bundesliga 2 side. The record cup winners showed composure and poise at a venue where even favourites can sometimes stumble.

Astonishing dream start from VfL

Going behind early on due to a wonder goal from Robin Meißner proved to be the perfect stress test (5th minute). A shot that thundered into the top corner sent the stadium into a frenzy, and briefly gave the underdogs hope that they could perhaps cause an upset. But the Munich side remained calm and didn’t let that moment unsettle them.

“It flew right into the top corner – congratulations to Robin Meißner on that goal,” said Jonas Urbig after the game. The FCB goalkeeper had been given a vote of confidence by coach Kompany and immediately found himself in for a cup night that demanded more than just taking care of business. “The first goal was a stunner. You know, of course, that it can be tricky here, and then a goal like that goes in within the first ten minutes. It was absolutely incredible. But we kept our cool, played a solid second half and are ultimately very happy,” concluded Kompany.

A decisive response

The response was crucial. Bayern needed a moment to regroup, but quickly found their way back to their strengths. Their passing and positional play looked composed, they kept up the pressure, and Kimmich's well-thought-out passes consistently added structure to the game. Up front, Kane provided a swift response with his equaliser (18'), before Tom Bischof turned the game around before the break (24').

Bischof later summed up the challenge aptly: “It was certainly a tough job. We knew Osnabrück play really good football, and they proved it. I’m just glad we’ve progressed.”

Admittedly, there were a few lapses against a feisty Osnabrück side, but nothing that would have seriously threatened the Munich men's grip on the match. It wasn’t an outstanding performance, but it was a confident one: a display of composure.

The stats also showed that this impression was not merely a matter of perception. FC Bayern recorded 22 attempts on goal, nine of which were on target and five of which were clear-cut chances. The xG was 3.11 to 0.13, and they also had 48 touches in the opposition’s penalty area. Osnabrück defended aggressively, looked to capitalise on counter-attacks and poured all their energy into the game. Yet over the course of the 90 minutes, it was clear to see who really controlled the match.

At just the right moment, Michael Olise popped up to make it 3–1 (71’) and nip the underdogs’ hopes in the bud. Later, Kane wrapped up the win from the penalty spot to make it 4–1 (86’). His confident finish was a fitting end to a controlled evening. FCB had to be clinical, and they were.

It was also a special evening for Kane. The Englishman made his 150th competitive appearance for FC Bayern, and his stats continue to be extraordinary: he's now scored 148 goals in FCB colours. He also continued his remarkable run in the DFB Cup: Kane has found the back of the net in each of his last seven matches in the competition, netting a total of 12 goals during that period.

He’s long since become a true Munich man: “I feel right at home at FC Bayern and am proud to be part of this team,” said the England captain.

Team exuding confidence

The value of getting off to such a good start in the cup lies in the confidence exuded not only by Kane but by the whole team. Kompany’s side showed that, even after their successful Bundesliga opener against Stuttgart, they don't intend to let up in the slightest, and that the depth of their squad can already prove crucial early on in the season: Urbig gained some playing time, Bischof made the most of his chance with a goal, whilst Olise and Kane delivered quality in the crucial moments.

It was the continuation of an impressive run for FC Bayern: since the 1995/96 season, the record champions have now progressed past the first round 32 times in a row – a current DFB Cup record.

That's another reason why this victory in Osnabrück was more than just a job well done. It was further proof that Bayern are tackling this season’s challenges with the necessary seriousness.

So FC Bayern's cup campaign continues. The draw for the second round will take place this Saturday during the ‘Sportschau’ programme on the ARD TV channel.

Before that, however, the next challenge in the Bundesliga (fixture list) awaits: on Saturday (18:30 CEST), FCB are away to Bundesliga newcomers FC Schalke 04. “There’s always plenty to do when we play away from home. We know what to expect. Schalke are getting back into the swing of things in the Bundesliga, but for us, as always, it’s all about the three points. We want to do our job,” said Kompany, setting out the team’s approach..

At Bremer Brücke, before the return journey to Munich, one thing stood out above all else: FC Bayern have cleared the first hurdle in the cup and, in doing so, have shown that, even when the going gets tough, they know exactly how to get the job done.

Check out the reaction to the cup tie in Osnabrück: