FC Bayern II: A 9 point week keeps them top of Regionalliga Bayern

In what was a busy week in the Regionalliga, FC Bayern II won all three of their matches improving to 6-0-0 on the young season. These victories leave them all alone at the top of the table, 5 points ahead of second place FC Eintracht Bamberg 2010.

The week started last Tuesday with a 1-0 win over FC Nürnberg II on the squad’s return to the Grünwalder Stadion. In what was an affair dominated by Bayern who had trouble finishing, it was a 67’ free kick from Pierre-Emil Hojbjerg rifled into goal that gave the reserves their game winning goal and their fourth win.

On Saturday, the second affair of the week ended 1-0 at the Trolli Arena as the reserves held on to defeat SpVgg Greuther Fürth II despite an 84’ minute second yellow to centerback Rico Strieder. The 16’ goal came from Patrick Weihrauch who latched onto a Vladimir Rankovic cross and slotted the ball home. It was Rankovic’s seventh assist on the season and Weihrauch’s second goal. Unfortunately for Bayern, Pierre Hojbjerg was subbed out at the 53^rd minute from an injury which has been revealed as a strained ligament in his ankle. His return is not likely for a few weeks. This presented head coach Erik ten Hag with a conundrum coming into yesterday’s match against TSV 1860 München II.

Yesterday, in front of over 10,000 spectators at the Grünwalder Stadion, the Bayern reserves defeated their Bavarian derby opponents 2-0. With the loss of Hojbjerg, ten Hag opted to use Alessandro Schöpf in the single pivot of his 4-1-4-1 and according to reports, the young Austrian played well while the Bayern squad had trouble finishing in the final third. This has seemed to become a theme for the reserve squad as all three matches this week were marred by this problem. This match required 20 yard strikes from right back Benno Schmitz and from CM substitute Ylli Sallahi to put the Bavarians over top their München counterparts.

This Saturday, FC Ingolstadt II travel to the Grünwalder Stadion in what shall be the seventh match of this season. The Ingolstadt reserve side placed 8^th in last season’s Regionalliga campaign and through 5 matches this season, they sit in sixth in the league on a 3-1-1 record and a +2 goal differential. Here’s looking forward to another 3 points and opening a larger lead at the top of the table.