Schmidt made four changes to the side that started the 1-1 draw at CSKA Moscow in the Champions League: Wendell, Aleksandar Dragovic, Kai Havertz and Admir Mehmedi started in place of Tin Jedvaj, Chicharito, Kevin Volland (all three on the bench) and Ömer Toprak. The Turkey international was ruled out of the squad with a knee injury.
Mehmedi misses chance
The Werkself made a bright start to the match and were almost rewarded after just two minutes: Hakan Calhanoglu surprised the Bayern back four with a great pass to Admir Mehmedi and he reacted quickly on the left edge of the FCB box but his shot went inches wide of the right hand post. Bayer 04 were on equal terms at this point of the match. Calhanoglu tried a long-range effort but the Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer was able to make the save on eight minutes.
Bayern gradually came into the game and created chances: Joshua Kimmich had the best chance to put FCB ahead with a header on 19 minutes. Just before the half-hour mark, the host took the lead in front of a full house at the Allianz Arena. The Bayer 04 keeper Bernd Leno was only able to parry a shot from Philipp Lahm leaving Thiago Alcantara with a simple header from close range that made it 1-0 for the men from Munich. Shortly after that, Leno was in the right place to keep out the FCB striker Robert Lewandowski when he prevented conceding a second goal on 33 minutes with his foot.
Swift response from Calhanoglu
The Werkself refused to be downhearted and quickly fought back: Calhanoglu beat Lahm and a one-two with Julian Brandt left him to score the leveller at 1-1 from a tight angle with his left foot shot leaving Neuer with no chance of the ball angled into the roof of the net on 35 minutes. The two teams went into the half-time break on level terms.
FC Bayern were much livelier after the restart and they succeeded in putting the Werkself under pressure: A diagonal ball set up Douglas Costa but Leno saved. Seconds later, Mats Hummels was able to restore the lead with a header from a corner.
Again the Werkself refused to be bowed: Calhanoglu attempted another long-range effort to level the scores but Neuer was able to keep out his shot on 60 minutes. The Schmidt team continued to attempt to get on the front foot and they competed with the dominant hosts who did not offer much up front.
Penalty not given
FC Bayern were lucky again on 82 minutes: Substitute Kevin Volland was put through with a great ball from Jonathan Tah and he succeeded in beating Javi Martinez and lobbing Neuer. But as he attempted to head the ball over the line from a tight angle he was challenged by Martinez. The Bayern central defender used his arm to make the clearance but referee Marco Fritz and his assistants did not see it – the penalty and red card did not happen – a contentious decision. The Werkself pressed for an equaliser right to the end. In added time, Calhanoglu had another chance but his free kick from 25 yards out landed in Neuer's arms. The match ended 2-1 for FC Bayern.
Bayer 04 remain mid-table on 16 points. The Werkself entertain SC Freiburg at the BayArena next Saturday (15.30 CET) on matchday 13.
Match stats
FC Bayern Munich: Neuer – Kimmich, Martinez, Hummels, Alaba - Alonso – Thiago, Lahm (Vidal 82’) – Müller (Robben 65’), Costa (Ribery 74’) – Lewandowski
Bayer 04: Leno – Henrichs, Tah, Dragovic, Wendell – Aránguiz, Kampl – Havertz, Calhanoglu, Brandt (Volland 58’) – Mehmedi (Chicharito 58’)
Goals: 1-0 Thiago (30’), 1-1 Calhanoglu (35’), 2-1 Hummels (56’)
Booked: – / –
Referee: Marco Fritz (Korb)
Attendance: 75,000 (sell-out).
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