Mainz 0-4 Bayern Munich: João Cancelo immediately distinguished himself with an assist on his debut for Bayern Munich on Wednesday evening. Partly thanks to the contribution of the Manchester City hired Portuguese, the German record champion easily qualified for the quarter-finals of the German cup tournament against 1. FSV Mainz 05. Daley Blind made his debut in the second half.
Blind has been a Bayern player for almost a month, but was still waiting for his first official minutes. Cancelo immediately started in the base a day after completing his transfer and after more than fifteen minutes he immediately gave the fans of his new club a taste of his qualities. The right back passed the ball with great feeling and saw how Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting shot it in at the far post.
It turned out to be the prelude to a simple cup evening for Bayern. In the Bundesliga, Julian Nagelsmann’s team did not win yet in 2023 (three draws). But against Mainz it was already 0-3 at halftime. After half an hour, the agile Jamal Musiala doubled the margin on a pass from Thomas Müller and just before half-time Leroy Sané also scored after handy preliminary work by Choupo-Moting.
After the break, Mainz tried to do something in return, but with Matthijs de Ligt in the center of the back, Bayern gave little away. The visitors from Munich, with Blind and Ryan Gravenberch in the line from the 64th minute, increased the score even further in the final phase via Alphonso Davies. So it became a nasty evening for Mainz, where Alexander Hack also got his second yellow just before time.
Cancelo addresses conflict with Pep
In recent weeks, the Portugal international has remained on the bench. “I haven’t had much playing time lately, that influenced my decision,” Cancelo said at his presentation in Munich.
“My departure has nothing to do with my relationship with Pep. I have chosen a new adventure and I expect to be happy here. Bayern is a big club, with a lot of history,” said the defender. Who is being taken over from City on a rental basis. Der Rekordmeister can take over Cancelo after this season for around 70 million euros.
The ex-Benfica, Valencia, Internazionale and Juventus player has had no contact with Guardiola since leaving City. “I haven’t spoken to the manager about this transfer because it all happened quite quickly. An offer came and I accepted it. I am ready to play for Bayern,” concludes Cancelo, who became champion of England twice with City.
