Eleven punishing training sessions so far this term have clearly left Bayern a trifle heavy-legged, as the Reds came in fourth at this season’s Telekom Cup on Sunday. The holders, fielding a large number of promising youngsters but lacking a host of their international stars, fell 2-1 to FC Augsburg in their afternoon semi-final, before losing to hosts Borussia Mönchengladbach on penalties in the evening’s third-place play-off.
For the second 45-minute match of the day Pep Guardiola made a raft of changes to his line-up, with the back four of Philipp Lahm, Rafinha, David Alaba and reserves left-back Philipp Steinhart the only survivors from the FCA clash. Tom Starke started in goal, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and new arrival Joshua Kimmich in central midfield. Youngsters Patrick Weihrauch, Gianluca Gaudino, Julian Green and FCB II striker Karl-Heinz Lappe formed the forward line.
Hojbjerg and Benko out of luck
The teams neutralised each other for long spells in a contest short on goalmouth action. Munich’s most impressive player was burly 27-year-old Lappe, a summer recruit from Ingolstadt who threatened the breakthrough in the Gladbach box on three occasions. At the other end, André Hahn missed a gilt-edged opportunity for the Foals with 23 minutes played.
The match went directly to penalties, with all four of Gladbach’s takers converting their spot-kicks. However, Hojbjerg and 17-year-old Fabian Benko were denied by home keeper Christopher Heimeroth. Lahm, Alaba and Kimmich had previously netted but the men from Munich fell 4-3.
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