After dropping their season opener last Friday, Erik ten Hag's reserve side were looking to make a statement as they took on 3.Liga relegates Wacker Burghausen today at the Wacker Arena. While a 0-0 draw is hardly what both sides would have hoped for, it's positive to see a clean sheet and a dominating performance.
Erik ten Hag made only one non-forced change from his opening day lineup, electing to bring in Lukas Görtler in place of Alexander Sieghart on the right side of midfield. The Bayen reserves only other change came due to Ivan Lucic's call up to the Austrian U19 team. This left ten Hag with little choice other then to field Leopold Zingerle between the sticks. Other than that, the attacking setup of Weihrauch on the left, Schweinsteiger and Jelisic in the middle, and Wegkamp up top.
After the match ten Hag intimated that the reserves were too sloppy in the first half, but were much better in the second half of the match, drawing several excellent saves out of Burghausen goalkeeper Alexander Eiban. Steeven Ribery was once again a halftime substitution, replacing Patrick Weihrauch, while Bastian Fischer made another late appearance off the bench. Matthias Strohmaier was taken out in the 42nd minute following an early yellow card and replaced by Stefan Buck.
Overall, it's not an auspicious beginning for a side who started their previous campaign banging in 10 goals over their first two games. However, it's a long season and Erik ten Hag's side has the talent to make this work. Stellar second halves in both of their opening matches are a testament to that; it's just a matter of harnessing those performances for 90 minutes. Which is easier said then done with a roster of 19-year-olds.
The reserves next face SV Heimstetten this coming Saturday in what should hopefully be a gimme match for all 3 points. The reserves stomped Heimstetten by a combined 11 goals to 0 over their two matches last season. Heimstetten got off to a better start this year, drawing 1-1 in their first match against the Greuther Furth reserves.