It was a highly anticipated preseason match for FC Bayern to cap off their Asian tour against reigning Europa League champion Aston Villa. In the end, the record champions earned a well-deserved 2-1 victory.
To wrap up FC Bayern’s Asian tour, the German record champions hosted a highlight friendly as part of their preseason preparations. In Hong Kong, they faced reigning Europa League champions Aston Villa. Coach Vincent Kompany once again fielded four German World Cup participants in the starting lineup—Neuer, new signing Brown, Tah, and Pavlovic—for the first time this season.
On the other side, coach Unai Emery was still without Manzambi. However, 40-million-new signing Joao Gomes—who had moved to the Villans from Premier League relegated side Wolverhampton—was in the lineup. Additionally, two familiar faces from the Bundesliga, Maatsen (BVB) and Buendia (Leverkusen), also started.
Kim scores with a header
FCB looked the more seasoned side right from the kickoff. Kompany’s team was happy to press high as a unit, winning the ball back early on. It was from one such situation that the first good scoring chance arose. Ibrahimovic, playing as the central striker this time, narrowly missed the right post with his low shot (14th minute).
Long-range shots initially remained the weapon of choice for the reigning double champions. Pavlovic, for example, tested Villa goalkeeper Bizot in the 26th minute, but it wasn’t long before the ball hit the back of the net. This time, it was a perfectly struck free kick by Bischof that found the onrushing Kim. The South Korean headed the ball in to give his team a 1-0 lead (37th minute). That was the score as the teams headed into the locker rooms.
Luis Diaz scores a spectacular goal to make it 2-0
The Villans had very little to offer in the second half as well. Bayern’s compact and high press remained in place, putting Emery’s team under immense pressure. Nevertheless, the Europa League champions had their first dangerous chance when Guessand narrowly missed a Buendia free kick (57′).
After that, however, Kompany’s team shifted up a gear—chances came thick and fast. A double chance by Stanisic and Ibrahimovic (66th) was followed shortly afterward by a free kick from Bischof that Bizot was just able to tip out of the corner (70th). Barely a minute later, it was substitute Luis Diaz whose shot was scraped off the line. So it was no surprise that the ball hit the back of the net again in the 73rd minute. Luis Diaz curled a beautiful shot perfectly onto the underside of the crossbar and from there into the net.
It wasn’t until then that Emery’s team finally woke up—and they did so in spectacular fashion. A long-range shot by Joao Gomes found the net perfectly to the right, leaving Neuer with no chance, making it 1–2 (83′). Aston Villa found a second wind and became truly dangerous again shortly afterward. Neuer was ultimately only able to parry a header from substitute Abraham with a brilliant save (85′). In the end, however, the Villans’ late surge wasn’t enough, and FCB won 2–1.
Bayern’s next friendly is against RB Leipzig on August 15 (3:30 p.m.). Aston Villa already faces a tough challenge on Wednesday (9:00 p.m.) in the UEFA Super Cup against Paris St. Germain.
