Bayern march on with 5-1 win over Pafos

FC Bayern beat Pafos FC 5-1 on Tuesday night to win their ninth competitive match in a row. Two-goal Harry Kane, Raphaël Guerreiro and Nicolas Jackson handed Bayern a comfortable lead before Mislav Oršić pulled one back for the home side late in the first half. Michael Olise rounded off the final scoreline midway through the second half.

Bayern lined up with Manuel Neuer in goal and Konrad Laimer, Dayot Upamecano, Minjae Kim and Guerreiro in a back four. Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlović anchored a midfield featuring Olise, Kane and Luis Díaz, with Jackson up front. Serge Gnabry replaced Díaz at half-time, with Sacha Boey, Jonathan Tah, Lennart Karl and Tom Bischof coming on for Kane, Upamecano, Olise and Laimer in the second half.

First-half dominance

Bayern were dominant throughout, although it was Pafos who had the first half-chance, Pêpê firing over from distance. Díaz saw a shot saved and Kane’s overhead kick hit the inside of the post before the hosts cleared the ball, but Olise soon invited Kane to find the far corner of the net. Munich made it two when Olise cut inside and set up Guerreiro, who beat Pafos keeper Neofytos Michael after a one-two with Jackson.

Pafos were reeling and Olise soon sidestepped an opponent before setting up Jackson, who found the low corner of the net to score his maiden goal for the German record champions. Kane made it four when he eluded a number of opponents and scored from a tight angle. Díaz saw an effort saved before Pafos pulled one back, Oršić getting hold of a loose ball and hammering into the top corner of the net.

Olise makes it five

Pafos were livelier after the restart, David Golder seeing a header blocked by a teammate and Anderson Oliveira aiming too high. Olise and Jackson saw their efforts saved at the other end before Michael parried against Pavlović, with Kimmich’s header going just wide.

Bayern made it five when a Jackson shot was parried, but Olise was on hand to mop up the rebound and crown his fine performance. Karl fired over twice before both Gnabry and Jackson were denied by Michael and the woodwork.

The Bavarians will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to face Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen