Bayern Strikes
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Bayern Munich grind out DFB Pokal win against SV Rodinghausen

By Benjamin Scott

ROEDINGHAUSEN, GERMANY - OCTOBER 30: Thomas Mueller of Bayern Muenchen celebrates scoring his teams first goal of the game after he takes and scores a penalty with Rafinha, Thiago Alcantara and Junior Luz Renato Sanches during the DFB Cup match between SV Rodinghausen and FC Bayern Munich at Hacker-Wiehenstadion on October 30, 2018 in Roedinghausen, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Bongarts/Getty Images)
ROEDINGHAUSEN, GERMANY - OCTOBER 30: Thomas Mueller of Bayern Muenchen celebrates scoring his teams first goal of the game after he takes and scores a penalty with Rafinha, Thiago Alcantara and Junior Luz Renato Sanches during the DFB Cup match between SV Rodinghausen and FC Bayern Munich at Hacker-Wiehenstadion on October 30, 2018 in Roedinghausen, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Bongarts/Getty Images) /
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Bayern Munich got an important win against SV Rodinghausen in the DFB Pokal round of 16 but looked far from their best in doing so.

It was a cold, rainy night in Rodginhausen, not exactly the ideal weather condition for a big match in the German Cup. Nevertheless, last year’s Pokal runners-up Bayern Munich squared off against Regionalliga side SV Rodinghausen.

Though the hosts are — on paper — far inferior to the Bavarian giants, they gave an excellent showing, holding Bayern to a 2-1 win.

The manner in which the Bavarians began the match suggested the final score could easily end 5 or 6-0. Sandro Wagner opened the scoring, and his account for the season, in the eighth minute with a tap-in.

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Rafinha spotted an excellent run in behind from Renato Sanches and picked out his Portuguese teammate with a sublime lobbed pass. The 21-year-old redirected the ball across across goal with his first touch and Wagner fired home.

Sanches, who was one Bayern’s best players on the night, earned Bayern yet another goal five minutes later, winning a penalty after a spectacular run. Thomas Muller stepped up and slotted his spot-kick into the back of the net.

When Bayern were awarded yet another penalty just ten minutes later, the sense that this match would be a complete blowout was heightened even further. However, star-performer Renato Sanches couldn’t convert, blasting his shot off the woodwork. Nevertheless, Bayern remained on the front foot for the rest of the half and went into the locker room after 45 minutes with their heads held high, despite the feeling that they could and should have scored one or two more in the half.

The Bavarians then came out in the second half and almost gave away a goal after just 15 seconds of play. Their relief at not conceding to such minnows was only brief, however. Rodinghausen opened their account for the night just three minutes into the second-half.

Linus Meyer beat his marker, Rafinha, to get on the end of a Kelvin Lunga cross — which Javi Martinez should have never allowed into the box — and put away his chance with aplomb. Despite a few scares throughout the remainder of the half, Bayern didn’t allow their hosts another good chance on goal. It’s a good thing, too, because they probably would have put it away.

Sure, they were without many star players and largely dominated their opponents for most of the match, but Bayern have to do much, much better if they want to get anything significant out of this season.

Franck Ribery — once a top three contender for the Ballon d’Or — couldn’t hack it against a German side from the fourth division. Despite amassing an impressive 25 shots, the reigning Bundesliga champions only managed to place 7 on target, and only 2 found the back of the net (and one of them was a penalty)!

Next. Niko Kovac wants more goals from his Bayern Munich forwards. dark

That this could have easily been a massive scoreline for Bayern is a good sign. That it ended up as a scrappy, 2-1 win is perhaps a much more significantly worse sign. The Bavarians might be trending in the right direction, but only just. There’s still much, much work to do before next Saturday’s clash with Borussia Dortmund.