Impressive Werkself beat FC Bayern 2-1

In contrast to the 2-0 win at Ferencvaros in the second leg of the Europa League Round of 16 tie on Thursday, Xabi Alonso opted to play a 3-4-1-2 formation rather than the usual 3-4-2-1 set-up. Alonso made three changes to his starting eleven: Odilon Kossounou started in defence alongside Robert Andrich and Edmond Tapsoba. Kerem Demirbay was in midfield with Piero Hincapie moving out of the fence onto the left flank to replace Mitchel Bakker. Up front, Amine Adli played alongside his fellow countryman Moussa Diaby with Sardar Azmoun starting on the bench.

Werkself press, fc bayern score

The Werkself were anything but timid in the encounter with the record champions: The hosts played with courage and energy with a high press in front of an impressively vocal BayArena. Bayer 04 succeeded in breaking up the build-up play of the team from Munich and constantly gained possession as a result.

The first warning shot from the Black and Reds came from a corner by Demirbay on ten minutes: The ball was curling into the net but the FCB keeper Yann Sommer was able to tip it over the bar. The Alonso team remained on top in the following minutes and pressed back the FC Bayern defence with high tempo attacks. Diaby tried a long-range effort but his shot went past the left upright (15’). A minute later, Jeremie Frimpong beat Alphonso Davies in a one-on-one but the Sommer was able to save his shot at the near post.

The first attacking move by the visitors on 22 minutes was marked by bad luck: An attempted clearance in the penalty area saw the ball end up with Leon Goretzka who spotted his teammate Joshua Kimmich in the centre of the area. Lukas Hradecky anticipated the direction of the shot but Kossounou deflected the ball into the back of the net-1-0 for the visitors. After the opening goal for the team under head coach Julian Nagelsmann, the Alonso team stuck to their task with Demirbay having another attempt on goal (35’). However, the Werkself lacked precision with the final ball. The first half ended with Bayer 04 on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline.

Werkself show determination, palacios nets brace

The second half started with a similar high tempo: An impressive passing move ended with Adli in possession in the FC Bayern penalty area where he was fouled by Benjamin Pavard. Referee Tobias Stieler first showed the striker a yellow card for diving. VAR then intervened, the referee looked at the video images and changed his decision. He withdrew the yellow card and awarded a penalty. Exequiel Palacios stepped up to take the spot kick and hit it low into the bottom left corner in front of the North Stand to deservedly level at 1-1 (55’).

The match was now an entirely open affair. The visitors had good chances with a header from Goretzka (62’) and Jamal Musiala (69’) but Hradecky was always in the right place. On 71 minutes, Adli was put through again and he made his way into the box where Dayot Upamecano attempted a sliding tackle but only succeeded in catching the Werkself number 21. Once again, referee Stieler showed the Leverkusen player a yellow card before VAR intervened again. the outcome was another penalty with Palacios repeating the first spot kick with a shot to the bottom left corner. This time Sommer went the right way but the shot from the Argentinian was too well-placed. The Werkself went 2-1 up (73’).

The Black and Reds remained under pressure after going ahead as the Nagelsmann team refused to accept defeat: Hradecky pulled off impressive saves to deny a shot from Leroy Sané (89’) and an effort from Serge Gnabry from a tight angle (90+2’). Substitute Bakker had a chance to make it 3-1 in added time but Sommer denied the Dutchman by saving with his leg (90+8’). The referee then drew an intense encounter to a conclusion. The Werkself had turned the game round to win 2-1 in front of a vocal crowd at home. Xabi Alonso’s team have now gone seven games in succession without defeat.

Schalke away after international break

After two double fixture weeks in succession, the Black and Reds now return to a normal week of training: The players have Monday off with open training on the following days up to and including Thursday training on pitches one and two at the BayArena from 11.00 CET. At the same time, 14 Werkself players are away with their national teams in the second international break of the year. The next Bundesliga game for Lukas Hradecky and Co. is a week later on Saturday 1 April with an away game at Schalke 04. The kick-off at the Veltins Arena is at 15.30 CEST.

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Hradecky – Kossounou, Andrich, Tapsoba – Frimpong (Fosu-Mensah 90+5’), Palacios, Demirbay, Hincapie – Wirtz (Bakker 83’) – Diaby (Tah 89’), Adli (Hlozek 83’)

FC Bayern: Sommer – Pavard (Stanisic 57’), Upamecano, de Ligt – Cancelo (Coman 46’), Kimmich, Goretzka (Tel 76’), Davies – Sané, Müller (Musiala 46’) – Mané (Gnabry 46’)

Goals: 0-1 Kimmich (22’), 1-1 Palacios (56’ pen.), 2-1 Palacios (73’ pen.)

Booked: Frimpong – Pavard, Stanisic, Upamecano

Referee: Tobias Stieler (Obertshausen)

Attendance: 30,210 (sold out) at the BayArena