“We wanted to go out and be brave, and put our all into tackles, just like we always do, but it didn’t happen today. We were always one step too slow and not aggressive enough. We were just not in the right place to hold a candle to Bayern, both mentally or physically, and that gave us the result we have today,” assessed head coach Christian Streich in his press conference after the final whistle at the Allianz Arena.

Both teams make four changes

SCF’s third long-distance away trip in the space of a week was to the reigning champions. The starting XI saw the coaching staff name four changes to the team which started the 4-0 win away in Nantes: Lukas Kübler, Yannik Keitel, Nils Petersen and Wooyeong Jeong were replaced by Kiliann Sildillia, Maxi Eggestein, Michael Gregoritsch and, for his first start this season, Kevin Schade.

The home side were also in European competition over the weekend, and they made four changes to the side which qualified for the Champions League’s last 16 with a 4-2 in over Viktoria Plzeň. Julian Nagelsmann brought in Alphonso Davies, Matthijs de Ligt, Serge Gnabry and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting for the injured Thomas Müller, suspended Kingsley Coman, Benjamin Pavard and Josip Stanisic.

It was clear from the opening stages that SC were not overawed by the task at hand and came out on the front foot. The attacking line stayed high and forced Bayern’s defence into some losses of control and possession through clearances.

Behind early

Following a first searching effort from Ritsu Doan, it was Bayern who created the more dangerous chances in the first half. With several SCF players tracking back, Alphonso Davies narrowly missed the goal with a dangerous shot from range after five minutes.

Not long later, the lead came through Serge Gnabry. A low cross from the left was parried away from the onrushing Leroy Sané in Mark Flekken in goal, but only went as far as the Bayern number 7, whose header from 14 yards flew into the top corner and gave the goalkeeper no chance (13’).

A chance to equalise came quickly, but Matthias Ginter’s attempt from the edge of the box following a corner was deflected just wide from Sven Ulreich’s goal (16’).

Choupo-Moting adds to Bayern lead

Despite the occasional attacking moment from Freiburg, it was Bayern who created the majority of the chances in the first half. With 33 minutes gone, Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting doubled the Bayern lead. The striker beat Matthias Ginter in a one-on-one before before finding the far corner with a powerful low finish.

With Flekken doing well to deny Gnabry late on in the half, the opening 45 ended with the reigning champions two goals to the good.

Two goals conceded in three minutes

Freiburg emerged from the break with renewed bravery, but quickly found themselves on the end of the third and fourth goals. A quick interchange of passes between Sané and Sadio Mané saw the former fire in powerfully frome the edge of the area (52’). Just a few short minutes later, Mané was left all alone inside the box and lifted the ball over Flekken to give the home side a four-goal lead.

Despite being well behind, Freiburg refused to lie down and kept attempting to drive forward, but failed to have the required precision. Julian Nagelsmann’s side retreated a touch and concentrated on keeping their clean sheet in tact – they were able to do so with only few exceptions. The fifth and final goal came with ten minutes to go, as Marcel Sabitzer curled home.

The midweek games keep coming for SCF, as they look to bounce back from this defeat with progression in the DFB-Pokal. FC St. Pauli visit the Europa-Park Stadion on Wednesday evening – kick-off is 18:00 CEST.