FC Bayern easily progressed to the next round of the DFB Cup against Mainz 05. New signing Joao Cancelo made his debut.
The results crisis is over, the star newcomer already in the thick of it: Bayern Munich took the frustration out of the league with Joao Cancelo’s much-noticed debut in the DFB Cup. The record champions, who have been in an unaccustomed slump of late, withstood the pressure in a 4-0 (3-0) win at FSV Mainz 05 and advanced to the quarter-finals for the first time in three years after a long and convincing performance. The Bundesliga stumble was followed by the first win of the year at the fourth attempt – initiated by Cancelo. The Portuguese, whom Bayern had loaned from Manchester City just hours before the transfer deadline, set up Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting for the lead (17th). Jamal Musiala (30th), Leroy Sane (44th) and Alphonso Davies (83rd) added to the tally and rewarded coach Julian Nagelsmann’s team for their best performance since the winter break. Mainz coach Bo Svensson (81st) saw the red card in the final phase, shortly afterwards defender Alexander Hack (86th) had to leave the field with a yellow-red.
Only one day after his arrival, Cancelo was allowed to start from the beginning – as a right winger. Nagelsmann changed to a three-man backline compared to the draw against Frankfurt (1:1), and the new hopeful was convincing in a more offensive role, looking for depth, creating spaces and being used again and again by his teammates.
It was “very important”, Nagelsmann had stressed before the game, “to turn the ball over and get into a run for the really big weeks”. The Bavarians started the game in the sold-out Mainz Arena in a correspondingly dominant manner, always pushing forward with pace. First Kingsley Coman failed to beat FSV goalkeeper Finn Dahmen (10th), then Cancelo came into focus and immediately showed what they were hoping for from him in Munich. His first cross in the Bayern dress landed exactly with Choupo-Moting, who scored ice-cold. The lead gave the record champions additional security and confidence after difficult weeks. Thomas Müller and Co. had an easy game for long stretches against the overtaxed Mainz side, who were missing three-goal striker Karim Onisiwo from their starting eleven.
Musiala increased the lead after a remarkable attack, shortly afterwards Sane benefited from Choupo-Moting’s artistic preparatory work. Bayern were hardly in any danger, and they were also unlucky that Silvan Widmer from Mainz did not receive a yellow card before the break.
In front of the eyes of national coach Hansi Flick and the new DFB sports director Rudi Völler, the Bavarians dropped down a gear in the second half. The midfield around Joshua Kimmich allowed Mainz more freedom, but apart from Anthony Caci’s chance (60th), the FCB allowed little. Cancelo’s debut came to an end after 71 minutes. Bayern remained dangerous on the counterattack, but often lacked the decisive pass.