Bayern Munich steamrollered RB Salzburg 6-0 in an utterly dominant friendly performance. Here are some observations on the match:
Goretzka has pushed ahead Pavlović in the pecking order
Bayern’s starting XI in this friendly was, quite clearly, the team’s preferred lineup for the team’s first competitive game of the year against Borussia Mönchengladbach. There were no real surprises outside of Leon Goretzka retaining his spot, with Aleksandar Pavlović riding the bench.
Bayern had tried and tried and tried to convince Goretzka to leave the club this past summer and told him he would find game time hard to come by, but the experienced German stayed in the hope that he would eventually get that playing time. It seems Goretzka was right, again, as he retained his spot even with Pavlović fit again. The former had a solid enough game, though he aggravatingly made some incredibly sloppy passes. The latter, for his part, looked off when he came on against Salzburg and it took him a while to match the pace of the friendly game. Certainly, the zip and intensity he played with at the start of the season was missing. Pavlović will have to put in the work to regain his spot in the starting XI.
RB Salzburg were obliging “opposition”
It is rather poetic that Bayern ended 2024 by embarrassing a Red Bull-owned club and started 2025 by embarrassing another Red Bull-owned club. RB Salzburg was even worse than Leipzig were, which served to make Bayern’s day rather easy. And fun.
Different year, same Bayern…but with better finishing
But would RB Salzburg have looked quite as bad if Bayern were not this dominant? Probably not. This was a statement of intent from the Bavarian giants, beating up on the midtable Austrian Bundesliga side. The team was utterly dominant from the first whistle and thoroughly deserved the 3-0 halftime lead due to the team’s pressing and constant pressure on the home side.
The youngsters then started entering the field one by one, but the team never really lost its’ cohesion and strength as the average age of the team went down. That is the sign of a squad that knows what it is doing.
Grayson Dettoni and Jonathan Asp Jensen take their chance
As always, these friendlies are opportunities for young players to show what they are capable of. Of the players called up from the U-23s, Grayson Dettoni and Jonathan Asp Jensen were probably the ones that impressed the most. Playing as a CB in this system is incredibly tough, especially as a newcomer who has little chemistry with those around him, but Dettoni acquitted himself incredibly well. He was equal to everything Salzburg could throw at him and integrated himself well into the build up play. Though Upamecano was clearly keeping a close eye on him to help, Dettoni did not look out of place and that is all one can ask of a CB.
As for Asp Jensen, the Dane had been snubbed from Bayern’s pre-season tour only to deliver otherworldly performances for the U-23s this season, essentially forcing Vincent Kompany to bring him along. The creative midfielder then continued to make his mark. Despite being forced to play further up the pitch and take less creative control than he would normally like, Asp Jensen did as he always does and superbly adapted, making a smart run into the box to tap home the 6th goal. He is used to being the one delivering the ball into the box, not being the one who gets on the end of deliveries. Yet Asp Jensen just…adapts and overcomes the obstacles in his path. It is really admirable.
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