Four Bundesliga clubs failed to survive the DFB Cup first round against lower league opposition over the weekend, but Bayern were in no mood to allow an upset against fourth-tier BSV Rehden in Osnabrück on Monday night, as three-goal marksman Thomas Müller steered the cup holders safely through to the next stage.
The 16,667 full house at the Osnatel Arena, some 70 km from Rehden’s home community of 1,850 souls, saw the home side resist stoutly and even get forward a couple of times themselves, although their defence was breached twice in the first period, by Xherdan Shaqiri after 18 minutes and Müller on the stroke of half-time.
The Germany star made it three from the penalty spot before the hour, and completed his hat-trick with a header a short time later. The treble winners eased back a shade after that but the amateurs still put up terrific resistance to prevent Europe’s best running amok, and the only further goal was an Arjen Robben tap-in two minutes from time.
The draw for the second round of the cup, where FCB could for the first time be handed a tie against a fellow top flight team, takes place next Saturday. Bayern open their domestic league campaign the day before in the official Bundesliga restart fixture at home to Borussia Mönchengladbach on 9 August.
True to the pattern established in pre-season so far, FCB boss Pep Guardiola shuffled the bountiful cards at his disposal and started with a clutch of big names on the bench, including club captain Philipp Lahm, superstar Franck Ribery and summer signing Thiago.
The treble winners began with Manuel Neuer in goal, a back four of Rafinha, Daniel van Buyten, Dante and David Alaba, captain for the night Bastian Schweinsteiger in the anchor role, Arjen Robben and Shaqiri on the flanks, Toni Kroos and Müller in the central area, and Mario Mandzukic at centre-forward.
Once referee Christian Bandurski whistled play underway on a sticky night in Lower Saxony, the home team opened courageously and dropped a couple of crosses Neuer’s way, but Kroos steered the first big chance of the night wide of the post after seven minutes, before Müller’s shot was deflected over the bar, and BSV keeper Milos Mandic smothered Kroos’ next effort.
The favourites led after 18 minutes when Shaqiri turned Robben’s shot over the line after a superb thrust and great persistence from Alaba. FCB eased back a shade before Mandic capably dealt with a Mandzukic effort, with a moment at the other end too when Alexander Neumann floated a cross-cum-shot just wide of Neuer’s far post.
Robben smacked a drive off the goal frame and Müller blasted the rebound over on the half-hour, before Bayern’s Dutch ace only just got the angles wrong with an angled drive six minutes later. However, it was the last minute of the first half before FCB made it two as the home team were caught napping at a quickly-taken corner and Müller headed home Rafinha’s cross from point-blank range.
There was a scare for Munich after the restart when Dante handled just outside the box, but Rehden’s free-kick came to nothing. That roused the Bundesliga side, with Mandic tipping a thumping Mandzukic header over the bar and Müller crashing a header off the woodwork, before the Germany international himself made it three from the spot on 58 minutes after the otherwise excellent Stefan Heyken felled the FCB youth product in the box.
The limping Schweinsteiger gave way to Jan Kirchhoff and passed the armband to Neuer, but the Müller show continued when the striker deftly headed home a Robben corner in the 64th minute. Jerome Boateng replaced Dante, but Müller had the bit between his teeth now and drew a fine reaction stop out of Mandic with 20 minutes left.
Danny Arend volleyed the home side’s best chance only just wide, Robben landed a monstrous lob onto the roof of the net, and Mandic saved brilliantly from the tireless Mandzukic, before Javi Martinez replaced Kroos for the last ten minutes. Mandic made his best saves of the night to deny Robben and Mandzukic at the end, but the keeper was powerless to stop Robben adding an 88th-minute fifth after great work from Boateng and Müller.
Live match report for fcbayern.de by Chris Hamley
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