Bayern Munich, considered one of the favorites to win the Champions League, was surprised by the enthusiasm and impetus of Salzburg, led by the emerging Karim Adeyemi, and could barely start a 1-1 in Austria thanks to a goal in extremis of Kingsley Coman as Robert Lewandowski came into play very little throughout the match.
Salzburg showed from the opening whistle that the first presence of an Austrian team in the knockout stages of the Champions League was not going to be testimonial. Pushed by a crowd that filled the Red Bull Arena once all restrictions were lifted due to the pandemic, he posed many difficulties for Bayern with his electric football, a perfect replica of the one played by Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
A responsive Salzburg
Matthias Jaissle’s players surprised the almighty Bavarian giant time and time again in the first half with heavy pressure in the midfield that allowed him to regain possession and attack with dizzying ball drops.
Salzburg – Bayern Munich in pictures
And there, between the lines, Karim Adeyemi, the German striker, demonstrated to his compatriots all the qualities that have made him, at 20 years old, one of the most coveted young talents in Europe. Quite a headache for Bayern’s three central line due to his speed, dribbling and verticality.
Kimmich, plugged
Bayern, with Joshua Kimmich blocked by local pressure, could not develop their usual game and also had to resort to long balls at times, but in their case without success, favoring Salzburg’s counterattacks.
On one of the rare occasions that Bayern created danger on long runs, Serge Gnabry received, cut off Andreas Ulmer and his cross shot was deflected by goalkeeper Philipp Köhn (10′).
Adamu enters and scores
It was a mirage despite the fact that Salzburg lost striker Noah Okafor to a muscle injury before the quarter of an hour. A sensitive loss but, football things, his replacement Chukwubuike Adamu opened the scoring, of course, in a lethal transition.
Adeyemi received, unloaded perfectly and, despite the fact that Brendon Aaronson did not control well, the ball reached Adamu, who placed an impossible thread for Sven Ulreich, substitute for the injured Manuel Neuer (21′).
Ulreich evita el 2-0
Ulreich avoided the 2-0 with a providential hand when he took the shot at Aaranson’s half turn (24′). In the other area, Robert Lewandowski unusually went unnoticed and only Leroy Sané, with an excessively crossed shot (30′), and Kingsley Coman, with a focused header (40′), disturbed Salzburg in the first half.
After the break the game changed. Bayern was clearly dominating but the Austrians, firm in defense, hardly conceded superiority situations. And when the German champion did, he met Köhn, who frustrated Coman after a good individual action down the left (73′) and Sané (76′).
From a clear double local chance to 1-1
Salzburg could no longer step on the area after the break but. in minute 81, he succeeded and was able to sentence the match in a very clear double chance by Adeyemi and Adamu that Ulreich and Benjamin Pavard frustrated with the goal unguarded.
But keeping a team like Bayern with so many resources at bay for 90 minutes is a virtually impossible mission and, with regulation time running out, Thomas Müller combed a cross from the right by Pavard and Coman, alone at the far post, finally beat Köhn. A goal that rewarded the insistence of Julian Nagelsmann’s team, despite not being one of his best European nights, and extended his streak of consecutive trips in the Champions League to 22 without losing.
Salzburg: Köhn; Kristensen, Solet, Wöber, Ulmer; Capaldo, Mohamed Camara, Seiwald (Sucic, 80 ‘); Aaronson; Okafor (Adamu, 12 ‘) and Adeyemi (Kjaergaard, 87’)
Bayern Múnich: Ulreich; Pavard, Süle, Lucas Hernández; Kimmich, Tolisso (Sabitzer, 80′); Gnabry (Choupo-Moting, 77′), Müller, Leroy Sané, Coman; Lewandowski
Goals: 1-0 Adamu (21′), 1-1 Coman (90′)
Referee: Michael Oliver (England). Yellow cards to Coman (83′), Köhn (86′), Sabitzer (92′)
Spectators: 29,520 at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg
see game file