Bayern Munich barely avoid upset in Salzburg

 

Photo: Vlad Indrei

16/02/2022

A 90th-minute equaliser from Kingsley Coman ensured that Bayern  Munich avoided a shock defeat away at RB Salzburg in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Wednesday evening, with the game ending 1-1.

The Frenchman proved to be the Bavarians' saviour late on after they had been piling pressure onto their hosts, and just as they looked as though they were going to end the night empty handed and with a real job on their hands in the return leg on March 8.

Bayern rather expectedly had the first chance, but Serge Gnabry's effort was well saved, starting a trend of frustration that would carry through for most of the night.

Salzburg's already-complicated task wasn't helped after 12 minutes when they were forced into a change as Noah Okafor had to be replaced by Chukwubuike Adamu with an injury concern.

But Adamu made an impact just nine minutes later. A long ball on the right exposed Bayern and Salzburg did well to work it to Adamu, who then arrived in the box to finish a curling effort and give the hosts an unlikely lead.

Adamu continued to cause problems, soon turning provider for Brenden Aaronson but the American was unable to make the most of the chance that fell his way, seeing his shot stopped.

Bayern spent most of the remainder of the game on top, and they flooded forward for much of the second half. Salzburg, impressively, managed to resist most of the pressure they faced, but it ultimately proved too much and the Germans managed to level with close to the game's final kick.

A momentary lapse in concentration was punished as Thomas Muller glanced a long ball on to Coman, who got in at the back post to finish.