Telekom Cup 2013: Bayern Sail to First While Dortmund Grab Third

Outside of Dortmund not being able to grab a goal and Roman Weidenfeller playing an absent-minded final minute on Saturday, not much else occurred that wouldn't have been expected entering the first and second of the more competitive preseason friendlies.

The final day of the Telekom Cup started with the third place match between Hamburg and Dortmund, and was one that BVB thoroughly dominated despite just the 1-0 scoreline. Jonas Hofmann sent the yellow-clad side home with the bronze metal (if they even award those for tournaments like this) with his strike just before the halftime whistle. Hamburg could hardly muster an attack and Dortmund were wasteful with their opportunities. Cetainly a more telling performance for HSV, though, as they looked utterly punchless for the second match in a row heading into Thorsten Fink's second season in charge.

As for the final, Bayern were for the most part unrelenting to the end, the lone exceptions being the off-moment for the Bayern defense when they were out of position. Case in point being Diego Contento getting beaten down the field and into the box where he resorted to a silly challenge from behind on Patrick Hermann. Luuk de Jong converted the resulting penalty for Gladbach's only goal.

At that point, Bayern had already netted three. The first came from a stunning volley (albeit likely a mishit) by Ribery after a brilliant pass from Robben launched from near the halfway line. Showcasing his excllence on the ball, Robben's pass was lofted over the whole if the Mönchengladbach defense before dropping just over Ribery's shoulder and onto his right foot.

Philipp Lahm, who was played on the right side of the midfield by Guardiola, scored the second into an open net on the rebound.

Thiago Alcantara got on the scoresheet after a deflected corner found Jerome Boateng on the wing. Boateng crossed it to the Spaniard who chested the ball into the goal despite fending off a crowded penalty area after the setpiece.

Robben headed Bayern into a 4-1 lead just after forty minutes from a Ribery cross. Not known for his heading ability, Robben expertly buried the cross back across the face of goal, leaving Heimeroth rooted to his spot.

The Reds would add one more before time, a beautifully worked goal that had Robben finding Ribery yet again, and Ribery passing across to Thomas Müller, who could have very well walked the ball into the net. Instead he cooly passed the ball over the line to put the finishing touch on an impressive first run of competitive friendlies.

Bayern's next match is against Barcelona on Wednesday before contesting the DFB-Supercup against Dortmund.