The Guardian (USA)

Bayern Munich win friendly 27-0 after sealing Kim Min-jae signing

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Summer football friendlies are intended to prepare for the cut and thrust of a new competitiv­e campaign, but it is questionab­le how much Bayern Munich learned from their first assignment of pre-season, a distinctly onesided 27-0 victory against RottachEge­rn.

At the Bundesliga champions’ camp in picturesqu­e Tegernsee, Jamal Musiala opened the scoring for Thomas Tuchel’s side after three minutes, with Serge Gnabry doubling the lead a minute later. By the 13th minute it was 5-0, Musiala and Gnabry both having scored twice, with the Canada internatio­nal Alphonso Davies adding the third on eight minutes.

By half-time it was 18-0: Mathys Tel and Musiala both scored five goals, with a hat-trick for Gnabry. Konrad Laimer, NoussairMa­zraoui, Dayot Upamecano and Leroy Sané were also on the scoresheet.

It was a new-look Bayern lineup after the break but there was little respite for their non-league opponents. Marcel Sabitzer scored five goals between the 50th and 73rd minutes, with Raphaël Guerreiro, Ryan Gravenberc­h, Kingsley Coman and, finally, Sadio

Mané completing what can safely be described as a rout.

The final 27-0 scoreline betters previous results against the same opponents: 20-2 in 2018 and 23-0 in 2019.

Bayern’s meeting with the treblewinn­ing Manchester City in Japan, on 26 July, is likely to be a tougher test, with pre-season fixtures against Liverpool, in Singapore, and Monaco also booked in.

The South Korea defender, Kim Min-jae, was there to watch his new teammates in action after completing his transfer from the Italian champions Napoli, signing a five-year contract. Bayern did not disclose the transfer fee but according to German and Italian media they paid a release clause worth €50m (£43m) for the player.

“FC Bayern is a dream for every footballer,” Kim said. “I’m really looking forward to what’s to come in Munich. It’s a new beginning for me. I’ll continue to develop here.

“In discussion­s with the club, it was made clear to me from the start how interested they are in me. My first goal is to play a lot of games. In addition, I want to win as many trophies as possible.”

The 26-year-old, who joined Napoli from Fenerbahce in July last year, was a vital part of the team that won the Scudetto for the first time in more than three decades.

“Kim Min-jae has developed extremely well, winning the Serie A title with Napoli last season and being voted the best defender in the league,” JanChristi­an Dreesen, the Bayern chief executive, said.

Kim played 45 matches in all competitio­ns in Naples, scoring twice. He announced he had left the Italian side on Tuesday.

“I send this message to all the Napoli fans who have shown love and support. Thanks to you the Scudetto was possible after [Diego] Maradona, 33 years ago,” Kim wrote on Instagram.

“To my passionate club Napoli, Mister [Luciano] Spalletti, my teammates, and above all, to Napoli fans, I would like to express my gratitude. No matter where I will be or no matter where I go, I will remember Napoli and cheer for you.”

 ?? ?? Kim Min-jae saw his new Bayern Munich teammates beat Rottach-Egern 27-0 after joining from Napoli. Photograph: Christof Stache/AFP/ Getty Images
Kim Min-jae saw his new Bayern Munich teammates beat Rottach-Egern 27-0 after joining from Napoli. Photograph: Christof Stache/AFP/ Getty Images

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