DFB Cup: FC Bayern wins 5-2 against Augsburg

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting enjoyed the hug with Julian Nagelsmann and his special applause from the guest block. Then FC Bayern’s new goalkeeper finished work early and enjoyed the last few minutes on the bench – he had arranged everything beforehand.

The outstanding striker almost single-handedly converted a 0-1 deficit at FC Augsburg with two goals and an assist into a deserved 5-2 (1-1) for Munich, who banned their second-round cup curse and again after two surprisingly early bankruptcies to be in the round of 16. The record cup winner can continue his treble hunt after the World Cup break.

“The first ten minutes were a disaster, then we accepted the fight and deservedly won,” summarized national player Leon Goretzka on ZDF and praised Choupo-Moting: “He played freely and made a great game again.”

As in the past two years in Kiel and Mönchengladbach, Bayern’s embarrassment was in the air again – but only for half an hour. Mads Pedersen (9th) punished the initially jittery and disembodied Munich, the brave FCA dreamed of the first cup coup against Bayern in over 79 years.

Appearance: Choupo Moting. The ice-cold 33-year-old scored from a tight angle to equalize (27′), set Joshua Kimmich (52′) for the second Munich goal and finally dusted it off to make it 3-1 (59′). An own goal by Dayot Upamecano (65′) added tension before Jamal Musiala (74′) and Alphonso Davies (90’+1) struck.

The game was not under a good star for Augsburg. The underdogs were without the two heroes of the 1-0 win in September’s league game, with goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz and then goalscorer Mergim Berisha (ankle) missing at short notice. Coach Enrico Maaßen relied on a flexible 3-2-2-3 system in which defender Jeffrey Gouweleeuw oscillated between center and six.

Bayern had problems with that – and Nagelsmann apparently didn’t really listen. “Physicality is the key,” said the coach before kick-off, but his eleven were duped by poisonous Augsburgers. Before the lead, Alphonso Davies, Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich lost their duels. Pedersen defeated Bayern substitute keeper Sven Ulreich, who was playing for Manuel Neuer (shoulder), with a low shot.

Only now did the guests wake up and check Gikiewicz representative Tomas Koubek. The Czech was on hand against Jamal Musiala (16’/24′), who took the place of Leroy Sane (hamstring) and Davies (20′). But when Choupo-Moting fired from an apparently impossible position, as in his strong performance against Freiburg, he wrongly speculated on a cross pass – equalizer.

Shortly thereafter, the goalkeeper prevented the 1:2 against Sadio Mane (29th). Augsburg lagged behind a lot in this phase and could hardly break free from the Munich stranglehold. The 30,600 fans in the sold-out WWK Arena cheered every duel that was won all the louder.

FCA defender Robert Gumny also had to leave injured at the break, and Bayern, like Serge Gnabry, shot into the crossbar (47th) continued to usury chances – until Kimmich hit a powerful goal. Before the 1:3, Maximilian Bauer shot Iago in the penalty area, Choupo-Moting was there again.