On Wednesday evening, FC Bayern did not get beyond a 1-1 draw in Salzburg in the first leg of the Champions League last 16. The Austrians went ahead midway through the first half – but Coman had the last word in the 90th minute.
The Bavarians left no stone unturned. They ran, they built up pressure, they forced Salzburg into mistakes. But in the end, when referee Michael Oliver (England) blew his whistle for the last time on Wednesday evening, the Munich side had to settle for a draw.
Salzburg had put Bayern on the back foot with a goal from Adamu, but faced immense pressure in the second period and eventually conceded the final 1-1. Bayern had by no means put in a bad performance – and at least salvaged a draw after 90 good-class and entertaining minutes.
Bayern start in changed system
Salzburg coach Jaissle had – of course – opted for Adeyemi in his starting line-up. Bayern only made one swap after the 2:4 in Bochum: Tolisso was preferred to Upamecano, which meant Julian Nagelsmann switched from a 4-1-4-1 to a 3-2-4-1.
In this formation, the favourites immediately seized the initiative, but Salzburg were always dangerous on the counterattacks. Adeyemi in particular caused the Bavarians difficulties – and was then also involved in the opening goal: After a long ball from Camara, the attacker dribbled from the right side into the middle, via Aaronson the ball landed with Adamu, one glance, one flick – 1:0 (21.).
Now Nagelsmann’s eleven had to find an answer, but Gnabry’s shots were blocked on each of a double chance (40.).
Salzburg has the chance to decide
After the restart, the Bavarians pressed harder with each passing minute. Salzburg held firm, but hardly provided any relief. With one big exception: Adeyemi failed to beat Ulreich, then Pavard threw himself into Adamu’s follow-up shot and prevented the 0:2 in the greatest of emergencies (81st).
Despite this top-class chance, the 1:1 was always in the air in the second half. In the end, it was Coman who scored it: Pavard lifted the ball into the penalty area, via Müller the ball came to the Frenchman – and he scored from a half-left position into the short corner (90th).
The Bavarians thus snatched victory from Salzburg’s bravely fighting hands. For the FCB, it was a morale-boosting draw. On Sunday (3.30 p.m.), the Munich team will play last-place SpVgg Greuther Fürth in the Bundesliga.
