Victory against Viktoria Cologne in the DFB Cup and FC Bayern's place in the second round was long in the bag, but that didn't stop Leon Goretzka adding the icing on the cake. With 82 minutes on the clock, the 27-year-old drove forward from halfway and lined up a shot from inside the area. "I wanted to put it through the defender's legs, but I didn't catch it cleanly. Sometimes you need a bit of luck," recalled Goretzka. Thanks to a slice of good fortune and oodles of ability, the ball nestled in the back of the net from 16 yards to cap a 5-0 win.
For Goretzka, it was a long-awaited comeback after more than six weeks out injured. The midfielder underwent knee surgery in mid-July and had been in rehab until recently. "It was a tough time. But I was able to make use of the time. Now I feel super fit and I'm really fired up for the season and happy that it's beginning for me. Of course I'm very happy," said Bayern's No.8 after his dream season opener in the cup victory in Cologne.
Praise from Nagelsmann
Head coach Julian Nagelsmann was also very pleased with his midfield conductor's return. "He played very well, very committed and focused, distributed the balls well from his area of the pitch" said the 35-year-old. "When such established players come in and bring such energy in a cup match against a third-division team, we're on the right path."
Ready for the busy schedule
The fact that, after Bayern's excellent start to the season, a seasoned international in the form of Goretzka is only just getting started is testament to the depth of the FCB squad. That he is FCB's 13th different goalscorer in all competitions already this season is further proof. "We've brought in good lads, even in positions where it was always obvious who would play [there] last season," explained Goretzka, who emphasised the side's togetherness: "There's a really good spirit. We're all happy for each other and are still fired up take on the competition." An exciting, jam-packed schedule comprising the upcoming visit to second-placed Bundesliga team Union Berlin, and Champions League ties against Inter Milan and FC Barcelona has come at just the right time.
Mathys Tel broke an FCB record today:
