Harry Kane and Co. were cheered on by the fans, and the record champions could easily get over this zero number. Without much pressure on results, FC Bayern had to be content with a lame 0-0 draw against FC Copenhagen.
In the 100th European Cup game at the Allianz Arena, Munich’s record winning streak in the group phase was broken – in stoppage time, referee Stephanie Frappart overturned a hand penalty decision for Bayern after studying the video.
“We have to accept it as it was,” said captain Manuel Neuer on the streaming service DAZN. “They defended well. I think what was missing was the activity.”
In front of 75,000 spectators, Bayern, who had already been group winners for three weeks, played in economy mode for long periods of time against the guests who defended deeply, led by the motivated but luckless returning starter Thomas Müller. The final offensive lacked penetration. In the 87th minute, Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer even had to use a reflex to prevent defeat. Copenhagen remains second in the table thanks to this point.
Lack of willingness to run
After the break there were more goal scenes than in the poor first half, but the game led by Frappart only became a little more entertaining late on. The Frenchwoman, who whistled when the German team was eliminated at the World Cup in Qatar, was in action for the Bayern men for the first time. She was called upon in some critical moments.
With their fifth success in the fifth group game of the season, they failed to extend their record to 18 preliminary round wins in a row. The German series champions have been unbeaten in Europe’s best league for 39 group games – this record series lasted. After the 3-3 draw between Galatasaray Istanbul and Manchester United, the Danish champions also have a good chance of reaching the round of 16, which will be drawn on December 18th.
Two weeks before the last group game in Manchester, there was no sign of coach Thomas Tuchel’s full throttle promise for a long time. “We are preparing the match as if it were the last chance for us,” the 50-year-old announced. In an uneventful first half there was a lack of willingness to run, pace and esprit. Müller missed the best chance when Copenhagen keeper Kamil Grabara brilliantly parried his header (30).
Both teams lack ideas
On the other hand, captain Neuer, who, like substitute goalkeeper Sven Ulreich, had extended his contract until 2025 the day before, was only really challenged after the break. Nevertheless, the Danes almost took the lead out of nowhere in the first half. Instead of shooting from the best position himself, Lukas Lerager crossed for Roony Bardghji. The 18-year-old Swede missed the Munich goal from 14 meters (27th).
Shortly after the break, Diogo Gonçalves failed to steer the game in a different direction by giving Copenhagen the lead. His shot from 20 meters whizzed just past the post (47th). Overall, the Munich defense around substitute central defender Leon Goretzka, who represented the South Korean Minjae Kim (hip bruise), was not challenged much.
With a triple substitution after an hour, Tuchel provided an impulse that gave Munich’s game a little more momentum. The new wing duo Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sané also helped the long-ineffective and very economical Harry Kane, who sniffed out the first goal of the evening with a long-range shot (68th). Like Sané with his free kick (72nd). Substitute goalkeeper Ulreich rightfully complained on the bench about the missed corner and received a yellow card from Frappart.
Müller struggles with the handball rule
Then there is the aforementioned handball scene in stoppage time. Peter Ankersen also got the ball slightly on his forearm in the rib area in the penalty area. “I wouldn’t have given the hand penalty either, but I think the rules allow it,” said Bayern player Thomas Müller on the DAZN streaming service after the game. “At the moment, I have the feeling that the rules keepers want to objectify the hand rule.” But that doesn’t work.
“Let the referees decide like they would with a foul,” said Müller. The referees should also make decisions depending on the situation. “Am I preventing a goal? A huge assist?” said Müller. “If I go towards the corner flag and get the ball against my hand, then I’ll get it against my hand. Let the referee decide subjectively, based on a few criteria of course. Give the referee the power.”
