Bayern Munich reserves lose opening match of the season

While many of their senior side compatriots are playing in Brazil or have just begun their preseason routines, the Bayern Munich reserve side were back in action as the Regionalliga Bayern season began. Maybe they should have just stayed home as they lost their opening match to Kickers Würzburg by a final score of 2-1.

While Bayern Munich dominated the match in possession, their opponents were content to sit back and attack them on the counterattack. Conceding their first goal in the 27th minute, the reserves eventually equalized after halftime through some tremendous lead up work from Steeven Ribery and Gerrit Wegkamp to give Tobias Schweinsteiger the goal. Alas, that effort was not good enough, as 10 minutes later Würsburg took the lead, this time for good.

While it certainly is a bad way to start off the season, it should be noted the combined games from these two sides last season produced a grand total of 13 goals (a 4-2 win early in July followed by a 4-3 win in November). Seeing a 2-1 final scoreline speaks to Würzburg's improvement as well as the big task the Bayern Munich reserves have in getting their vastly changed side to gel like a cohesive unit. The biggest surprise of the evening was the choice to go with 19-year-old Ivan Lucic in goal rather then the tried and tested Leopold Zingerle. Other then that, only Nikola Jelisic's and Alexander Sieghart's starts in attacking midfield, and the 4-1-4-1, were in any way out of the expectation. Sieghart's withdrawal at halftime (and Ribery's subsequent work) really shone a light on how far Sieghart probably has to climb considering he was injured for the majority of last season. New signing Lukas Görtler got a brief run out for the final 10 minutes but was not started in lieu of Patrick Weihrauch's inclusion on the right hand side of midfield while Gerrit Wegkamp lead the line.

The reserves face their next test on Tuesday July 15th when they take on SV Wacker Burghausen who were relegated from the 3.Liga at the end of last season. Their first match in the Regionalliga was a 1-1 draw with Oberliga promotees SpVgg Oberfranken Bayreuth.