Bayern Munich 9-2 Dinamo Zagreb: Initial reactions and observations

Initial reactions and observations

• Talk about a DEMOLITION. When Dinamo scored twice right after halftime, it looked like Bayern Munich were back square one. Instead, the team rallied and came back to utterly obliterate their opponents with the sort of brutal prejudice we haven’t seen since the Flick era. The scoresheet says nine goals, but it easily could have been more.
• Harry Kane effectively got handed a hat trick, but he should be commended for the way he stepped up to play more like a traditional number nine today. His presence in the box was felt throughout the 90, something you can’t say often.
• Incredible moments for Leon Goretzka and Leroy Sané both scoring on their comebacks. For Goretzka especially, the goal comes at a pivotal moment — it’ll be harder for Kompany to leave him off the squad in the future.
• Is Manuel Neuer injured? If so, that’s not a good sign for Bayern’s defense. They rely on him so much — it’s clear that Sven Ulriech is nowhere near as good.
• Bayern Munich will surely end this matchday of the Champions League at the top of the table. An auspicious start to a new format.

Bayern dominant in the first half

In the 8th minute, Bayern almost took the lead. Jamal Musiala was set up by Harry Kane after a combination involving Alphonso Davies and Serge Gnabry, but was just offside before he put the ball past Petković and into the goal. Another offside goal followed in the 16th minute, this time by Gnabry. But: Aleksandar Pavlović had previously been brought down in the box. Referee Juan Martínez Munuera awarded a penalty after using VAR, which Kane safely converted to make it 1-0 in the 20th minute.

In the 34th minute, Raphaël Guerreiro scored to make it 2-0. The Portuguese was beautifully set up by Musiala after a cross from Gnabry and took the assist directly. His volley hit the top left corner and was unstoppable. Olise then made it 3-0 at half-time, heading in a buttery-soft cross from Kimmich in the 38th minute.

Eight goals in the second half

The guests from Zagreb came out of the half-time break better. After a long cross from the right wing, Bruno Petkovic poked the ball into the net in the 48th minute to make it 3-1. Sven Ulreich, who came on for the injured Manuel Neuer, had no chance. The next goal was scored immediately after that: Misic sent a pass from the left half of the field into the path of Ogiwara. He then pushed the ball through the legs of the onrushing Ulreich in the 49th minute and reduced the score to 3-2.

Bayern's response to the early shock was swift. After a shot from Kimmich on the edge of the box, the ball landed at the feet of Kane, who scored twice from five meters and made the score 4-2 in the 58th minute.

After a through pass from Kane, Musiala flicked the ball to Olise in the 61st minute, who increased the score to 5:2. The Englishman then scored two more penalty goals in the 72nd and 78th minutes. Substitutes Leroy Sané and Leon Goretzka were also able to add their names to the score sheet, meaning that FCB ended the first Champions League evening of the season with a 9:2 win.