Karl shines in Bayern’s friendly win in Salzburg

Bayern Munich beat RB Salzburg 5-0 in their only preparation game ahead of the return of the Bundesliga. In a difficult week for the 17-year-old superstar, Lennart Karl showed mental strength with a fine performance that saw him register a goal and an assist in the second-half.

Jamal Musiala and Manuel Neuer didn’t travel with the squad, while Alphonso Davies and Sacha Boey also had to miss the game due to illness. Vincent Kompany confirmed before the game that he expects all the missing players to return in a few weeks.

There was an early concern of injury when Hiroki Itō and fellow Japanese Sota Kitano were on the ground in the first 15 seconds. However, both players managed to shrug off the discomfort.

Bayern had the majority of possession as expected, but it took 20 minutes for them to call Alexander Schlager into action. The Austrian international saved Michael Olise’s customary effort from the right wing. A couple of minutes later, Wisdom Mike failed to hit the target with his attempt from the opposite flank.

Jonas Urbig’s first save came in the half-hour from Kitano’s long-range effort, and Salzburg came close to scoring a minute later. David Santos Daiber made a crucial block on the goalline from Edmund Baidoo’s scuffed effort.

Kitano was at the heart of that opportunity, and he hit the sidenetting with Salzburg’s next goalscoring chance. It was the other Japanese international who scored the game’s first goal in the last action of the first-half, though.

Schlager made another solid save from Harry Kane, but they failed to clear their lines from the rebound. Itō’s shot from the edge of the box needed Jannik Schuster’s late deflection to put the Bavarians ahead before the halftime break.

None of the 22 players returned to the pitch after the restart, with both coaches making complete changes. Bayern were more in control with Luis Díaz, Serge Gnabry, Karl, and Felipe Chávez threatening to double Bayern’s advantage.

Christian Zawieschitzky made decent saves from Karl and Gnabry, and the 18-year-old Chávez was unable to keep his shot on target from close range. The youth team player turned provider for the man of the hour in Bayern’s next chance.

Karl, who has been in the headlines since his statement at a fan club event, scored Bayern’s second goal with a composed finish. A couple of minutes later, the roles reversed with Karl assisting Chávez with a fine play on the left wing.

Salzburg’s own 18-year-old sensation Kerim Alajbegovic then hit the crossbar from a direct free-kick. Karl had another good chance cleared off the line before completing his brace with a close-range header after a brilliant link-up play with Díaz.

Vincent Kompany made one last change in the 88th minute as the “Man of the Match” was replaced by Maycon Cardozo. The Colombian added another assist with a cheeky lob for Tom Bischof in injury-time.

Bayern will resume their Meisterschale defense at home against VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday. Salzburg, who have lost the last two championships to SK Sturm Graz, will play two more friendlies before their first competitive game of the year in the Europa League.