Harry Kane watched from the bench as Bayern Munich breezed to a 4-0 victory over third-tier Preussen Munster in the first round of the DFB-Pokal.
Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel was not tempted to unleash Kane – who thumped a hat-trick in Saturday’s 7-0 Bundesliga win over Bochum – as three first-half goals proved more than enough for his side.
Languishing in 15th place in the German third tier, Munster nevertheless looked up for the fight and generated such a pre-match atmosphere that the kick-off was slightly delayed to allow firework smoke to clear.
But inevitably it was Bayern who proved to be the more explosive side on the pitch and it took them just eight minutes to grab the lead through Eric Choupo-Moting.
Mathys Tel’s persistence down the left flank paid off as he delivered a cross which the Cameroonian met with a twisting shot past home keeper Johannes Schenk.
It was not all good news in the early stages for Bayern, for whom Serge Gnabry was forced off shortly after the opener after appearing to fall awkwardly in an earlier challenge.
Jamal Musiala was playing havoc with the home defence but Schenk proved equal to number of Bayern chances, denying Choupo-Moting a second from close range in the 24th minute.
And Schenk saved his best for the 36th minute when he produced a brilliant save to deny a powerful header from Leon Goretzka as Bayern continued to threaten.
The visitors’ seemingly inevitable second duly arrived six minutes before the break when Goretzka turned provider, setting up Konrad Laimer for a looping header that beat the keeper.
Homegrown 20-year-old Frans Kratzig grabbed his first competitive goal for Bayern in first-half stoppage time with a neat effort through Schenk’s legs to make it 3-0.
Schenk denied Tel before Munster got a rare sight of the Bayern goal when Niko Koulis headed a half-chance well over the bar.
Although not tempted to unleash Kane on the Munster defence, Bayern boss took the opportunity to make a number of chances with his side easing through to the next round.
They continued to create a series of chances with Musiala jinking through the home rearguard before firing wide, and Choupo-Moting scuffing his chance to claim a second of the night in the Munster box.
The hosts came closest to getting on the scoresheet with 10 minutes remaining when lively substitute Joel Grodowski burst through the Bayern lines but his shot was comfortably dealt with by visiting keeper Daniel Peretz.
Teenager Tel deservedly got on the scoresheet five minutes from time when he fired home from a tight angle after being played through by Bouna Sarr, and Kingsley Coman crashed a shot against the bar as Bayern refused to ease up.
Al-Nassr 3-1 Al-Khaleej: Ronaldo nets twice and passes up penalty in cup semi-final
Cristiano Ronaldo returned to the scoresheet with two goals as Al-Nassr beat Al-Khaleej 3-1 to reach the final of the King Cup of Champions on Wednesday.
Ronaldo scored either side of half-time as Al-Nassr teed up a final clash with Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Hilal, who beat Al-Ittihad 2-1 in the other semi-final on Tuesday.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star took advantage of an error from opposing goalkeeper Ibrahim Sehic to open the scoring 17 minutes in, then tapped home at the second attempt to make it a double shortly before the hour mark.
That goal could have made it a hat-trick for the Portugal star, but he passed up the chance to take a first-half penalty after Ivo Rodrigues handled in the area, Sadio Mane instead stepping up to blast his kick into the top corner.
Fawaz Al Terais was on target late on for Al-Khaleej, but that proved a mere consolation in a one-sided affair which saw Al-Nassr rack up 21 shots and 3.78 expected goals (xG), with their opponents managing just nine shots totalling 1.37 xG.
Data Debrief: Ronaldo's mini drought over
Ronaldo was frustrated against Al-Khaleej in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday, but he was back on song against the same opponents on Wednesday to end his mini drought of two games.
While Ronaldo's 43 touches were the fewest of any outfielder to start for Al-Nassr, he managed seven shots, five shots from inside the area and four dribbles – all game-high figures.
Al Ittihad 1-2 Al Hilal: Holders into King's Cup final
Al Hilal overcame Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's red card as Saud Abdulhamid's late goal sealed a 2-1 victory over Al Ittihad in the King's Cup semi-finals.
Without Karim Benzema, Al Ittihad ultimately lacked the firepower to make their numerical advantage count in Tuesday's clash.
Former Lazio midfielder, who joined Al Hilal as part of their spending spree last year, received a straight red card in the 42nd minute.
Al Ittihad's Abderrazzaq Hamed-Allah cancelled out Micheal's opener, but Abdulhamid popped up with the winner in the 81st minute.
Al Hilal are 10-time King's Cup winners, having won their 10th title last season.
The Saudi Pro League leaders, who are still without the injured Neymar, will now face either Al Khaleej or Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr in the final at the end of May.
Data Debrief: Malcom in the middle
Al Hilal might be missing their star Brazilian Neymar, but his compatriot Malcom is delivering when it comes to playmaking.
The former Zenit attacker set up both of Al Hilal's goals, creating three chances in total and registering a pass accuracy of 92.6 per cent, better than any of his team-mates.
Former Spain boss Del Bosque to oversee RFEF
Former Spain boss Vicente del Bosque will oversee a new committee supervising the RFEF.
Spain, which is due to be one of six host countries for the 2030 World Cup, announced the creation of a special committee until the federation holds elections to replace Luis Rubiales.
That is despite Pedro Rocha having this week been appointed as Rubiales' replacement, though he himself is under investigation amid a corruption probe.
Rubiales was dismissed following his unsolicited kiss on Jenni Hermoso during the Women's World Cup trophy ceremony in 2023.
The federation's former president was then arrested in early April as part of a corruption investigation.
Del Bosque led Spain to three consecutive trophies, winning the European Championships in 2008 and 2012, while also leading the team to their first World Cup success in 2010.
Prior to his time with the national team, he also won two Champions Leagues and two LaLiga titles while in charge of Real Madrid, where he made over 400 appearances as a player.
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