Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting was the man of the match in last weekend’s 5-0 win against SC Freiburg. The noble reservist was called up by Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann on Sunday as a center forward for the ailing Thomas Müller – and delivered.
The 33-year-old scored in goal, played for his colleagues and, as a reliable switching station in the opposing sixteen, played a large part in the victory in the top game.
It is understandable that the striker should also fix the feared opponent of Munich. The record champions lost twice in a row at FC Augsburg, most recently a month ago. And a third bankruptcy would have been much more serious than the 0-1 draw on the 7th Bundesliga matchday. FC Bayern came to Swabia in the second round of the DFB Cup.
And thanks to Choupo-Moting, Bayern’s journey into the cup continues. The veteran averted the knockout hat-trick in the DFB Cup. At 5: 2 (1: 1), Choupo-Moting (27th/59th minute) stood out with two goals and an assist when substitute captain Joshua Kimmich (52nd) scored. In the meantime, the Munich ensemble had to tremble briefly for the round of 16 – but Jamal Musiala (74th) and Alphonso Davies (90th 1) made everything clear.
“We showed great morale and kept going. The first 15 minutes were definitely not good but showed a very good reaction. I always felt like we were playing well and the goal will come,” said match winner Choupo-Moting, holding the Man of the Match trophy in his left hand.
One month after the celebrated 1-0 in the Bundesliga, the Swabians were able to enjoy another football festival thanks to an early lead by Mads Petersen (9th) and after the 2-3 through an own goal by Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano (65th). to hope. But unlike in the league in the 2-2 in Dortmund, the record cup winner didn’t gamble away his lead this time. After two defeats in the second round in recent seasons, FC Bayern is back in the round of 16.
As in the passionate league game a good four weeks ago, the 30,660 spectators in the sold-out Augsburg Arena experienced an exciting duel with tough duels. Contrary to what coach Julian Nagelsmann demanded shortly before kick-off, his stars in the eye-catching special jersey for the 50th anniversary of the Munich Olympic Stadium only managed to counter it with the “physicality” required in Augsburg after the deficit. With this basis, they were also able to exploit their quality plus. And this time, unlike the defeat in the league, they also took advantage of scoring chances.
After the Munich team lost 5-0 at Borussia Mönchengladbach and knocked out a penalty in the past two seasons. failed early on at Holstein Kiel, Nagelsmann now celebrated the desired cup success. Although he struggled again despite some good opportunities – above all from Serge Gnabry and Sadio Mané.
Around an hour and a half before the celebration of progress, Nagelsmann complained about the deficit in the Munich coaching bench, which was a prime example of football à la FC Augsburg. The hosts got the ball venomously and aggressively, Elvis Rexhbecaj put it on Pedersen. The Dane, who had already scored in a 2-1 home win against Bayern in November 2021, came on for the injured league winner Mergim Berisha. This time he scored with a well-placed long-range shot.
Choupo-Moting brightened his coach’s spirits before the break when, with a great deal of cleverness, he outwitted the hitherto strong Rafal Gikiewicz representative Tomas Koubek in the Augsburg goal with a goal into the near corner. In the best striker style, he dusted off after just under an hour to make it 3-1. The 33-year-old Choupo-Moting, who was only needed as a backup for world footballer Robert Lewandowski until the summer, was again self-promoting, as he was in the 5-0 win against Freiburg in the league. He recommended himself for more missions in the nine position.
And not just because of his goals. The long-time Cameroon international, whose contract expires at the end of the season, was also responsible for the Kimmich goal. Kimmich, who wore the captain’s armband on behalf of the injured Manuel Neuer and Thomas Müller, who came on late after suffering muscular problems, finished with a well-placed low shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Upamecano’s own goal increased the tingling factor again. Musiala let the Bayern bosses in the stands and coach Nagelsmann on the sidelines breathe deeply. Davies set the final points based on Müller’s template.
RB Leipzig – Hamburger SV 4: 0
Stuttgarter Kickers – Eintracht Frankfurt 0:2
Waldhof Mannheim – 1. FC Nürnberg 0:1
VfB Lübeck – Mainz 05 0: 3
TSG Hoffenheim – Schalke 04 5:1
Eintracht Braunschweig – VfL Wolfsburg 1:2
SV Elversberg – VfL Bochum 0:1
Darmstadt 98 – Borussia Mönchengladbach 2:1
Hannover 96 – Borussia Dortmund 0:2
SC Freiburg – FC St. Pauli 2:1 n.V.
SV Sandhausen – Karlsruher SC 8: 7 on pens
SC Paderborn – Werder Bremen 5: 4 on pens
FC Augsburg – FC Bayern Munich 2:5
VfB Stuttgart – Arminia Bielefeld 6: 0
1. FC Union Berlin – 1. FC Heidenheim 2-0
Jahn Regensburg – Fortuna Düsseldorf 0:3
1. FC Union Berlin
FC Bayern Munich
SC Freiburg
TSG Hoffenheim
Eintracht Frankfurt
Borussia Dortmund
RB Leipzig
Mainz 05
VfL Wolfsburg
VfB Stuttgart
VfL Bochum
Darmstadt 98
SC Paderborn
Fortuna Düsseldorf
1. FC Nürnberg
SV Sandhausen
