Hoffenheim give Bayern Munich a wake-up call in DFB-Pokal scare
Bayern Munich were given a warning, letting in two late goals in the DFB-Pokal ahead of their top-of-the-table Bundesliga clash with RB Leipzig.
Hansi Flick felt Bayern Munich were givene a wake-up call in Wednesday' 4-3 DFB-Pokal win over Hoffenheim. Bayern recovered after Boateng's early own goal and were cruising at 4-1 up at the Allianz Arena, only for Moanes Dabour to score twice in the last 10 minutes to ensure a nerve-racking finish. Flick said the final moments of the match should serve as a warning for Bayern, who host RB Leipzig in a top-of-the-table Bundesliga clash on Sunday.
Bayern seep two late goals
"You can always look at it one way or another," Flick told reporters. "I always look at it positively and say that today is a wake-up call. It was almost the same in the second half in Mainz. We weren't in the game that much anymore and shifted down a gear. I don't know if that was also the reason today. I don't want to diminish Hoffenheim's performance there. They did well in the second half."
Jérôme Boateng and Benjamin Hubner scored own goals in the opening 12 minutes, but Robert Lewandowski's brace after a Thomas Müller strike had Bayern cruising. Joshua Kimmich said Bayern missed a chance to send a message, instead getting a reminder they needed to perform for 90 minutes.
"The team and the coaches talked at half-time. It would have been a signal if we had won 4-1 or 5-1 today. It would have been possible today," he said. "On the other hand, the game today also shows us that if we don't play at our limit, a game can tip quickly. We have to stay concentrated against every opponent for 90 minutes. That's why it's maybe quite good, especially before the Leipzig game, that we realise that it's not going to work by itself. We have to bring hard work to the pitch to be successful."