Niko Kovac, Serge Gnabry react to Bayern Munich’s frustrating 2-2 draw vs. Augsburg

Just before the international break, Bayern Munich suffered a 2-1 loss to Hoffenheim at the Allianz Arena. A 2-2 draw at Augsburg was not how Niko Kovac wanted his side to respond after the break. After going down 1-0 after just 27 seconds (!) on a goal from Augsburg’s Marco Richter, Bayern responded well, scoring once each half by Robert Lewandowski and Serge Gnabry, but Alfreð Finnbogason’s stoppage-time equalizer after coming on as a late sub spoiled Bayern’s party.

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Speaking after the match, Niko Kovac highlighted the poor start from his side despite controlling the majority of the match, and said that losing Niklas Süle through injury was the real dagger (FCBayern.com):

We got off to a bad start. We mustn’t let that happen, we had addressed it before the match. We must be alert from the start and not only after five minutes. Then we were in control, we had the ball and big chances but failed to take them. If so, we mustn’t concede another goal. Two shots, two goals conceded, I’m annoyed. But Niklas Süle’s injury is even worse. It isn’t looking good. We must see what’s happened, we’re hoping for the best.

Two shots on goal and two goals conceded just about sums it up for Bayern, but the amount of missed chances should also be a concern for Kovac. Gnabry, Robert Lewandowski, Kingsley Coman, Philippe Coutinho, and Thomas Müller all had glorious chances at different points in the match, but failed to capitalize on those chances, although Gnabry and Lewandowski found the back of the net at least once.

The missed chances were something Gnabry reflected on, in addition to some unnecessary, sloppy mistakes:

We put the last match against Hoffenheim behind us. We were fresh and turned in a superb performance, we were always in control. Towards the end we had two gilt-edged chances, it would have been over if we had taken them. But we’ve thrown it away. We dominated possession and had many chances but were a little too sloppy, and then it happened at the back. That’s football.

Fortunately for Bayern, Borussia Mönchengladbach lost to Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig drew with VfL Wolfsburg, so Bayern stays in 3rd place in the Bundesliga pending Schalke’s result against Hoffenheim. Bayern suffered a frustrating draw, but it’s by no means the end of the world.

Photo by Stefan Puchner/picture alliance via Getty Images

On a side note, we wish Niklas Süle a speedy recovery!

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