FC Bayern beat Werder Bremen 2-0 in Saturday's Telekom Cup final, sealing a record-extending fourth triumph in the competition. Thomas Müller handed his side the lead after 12 minutes and set up Bayern's second after 33 minutes, his back-heel inviting Juan Bernat to tap in.
The German record champions started with Christian Früchtl in goal and Rafinha, Mats Hummels, Javi Martínez and Bernat in a back four. Milos Pantovic and Alaba anchored a midfield featuring Müller in the playmaking role. Kingsley Coman and recent arrival James started out wide, with Franck Evina as an orthodox centre-forward.
Boss Carlo Ancelotti made five changes to the XI that downed Hoffenheim earlier on Saturday. Youngster Früchtl replaced Tom Starke between the sticks, whereas Thiago, Corentin Tolisso, Franck Ribéry and Robert Lewandowski gave way to Pantovic, Alaba, Evina and James, the latter making his maiden appearance wearing the FCB kit. Carlo Ancelotti shuffled his deck after 20 minutes. Felix Götze, Marco Friedl and Tolisso came on for Rafinha, Coman and Martínez.
Müller draws first blood, Bernat twists the knife
After match official Sascha Stegemann whistled play underway in front of the 41,283 crowd in Mönchengladbach, a couple of half-chances came at either end. Bremen netminder Michael Zetterer blocked a James header, but failed to get hold of the ball, although Evina was unable to mop up against a clutch of defenders. Coman shaved the post from distance before Müller opened the scoring, firing a 20-yarder that sailed into the far corner of the net with the help of a slight deflection.
Bayern went for the jugular after the half-hour, Müller's cunning back-heel inviting Bernat to tap in. Evina was soon upended in Werder's box, but Müller missed both the spot-kick and the rebound. Bremen's Thomas Delaney warmed Früchtl's gloves from 18 yards, but no further goals came, and Stegemann blew for full time.
The men from Munich depart for the Audi Summer Tour to Asia on Sunday and will be back in action in Shanghai on Wednesday at 13.15 CEST, when they cross swords with Arsenal.
Greg Salmen reporting from the Borussia Park for fcbayern.com.
FC Bayern line-up: Früchtl - Rafinha (Götze 21), Hummels, Martínez (Tolisso 21), Bernat - Thiago, Alaba - Coman (Friedl 21), Müller, James - Evina
Goals: 0-1 Müller (13), 0-2 Bernat (34)
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