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Bayern's newbies shine in cup

Mark HallamAugust 20, 2012

Bayern Munich's summer shopping spree, at least so far, has been comparatively low-key. That didn't stop the Bavarians' acquisitions from shining in the team's 4-0 German Cup win over second division Jahn Regensburg.

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Mario Mandzukic, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery celebrate a goal
Image: picture-alliance/dpa

New additions to the Bayern Munich squad scored all four of the goals in a comfortable win in Regensburg on Monday night, with this more predictable result concluding an upset-ridden first round in the German Cup.

The newly-promoted second division side fought gallantly for the most part in an obvious mismatch, but the dam broke shortly after half an hour's play.

Left-winger Franck Ribery wriggled free, maybe with a bit more luck than judgement, in the box and crossed low to Croat international Mario Mandzukic who finished with ease. Mandzukic, who joined from Wolfsburg in the summer, also scored in the 2-1 Super Cup win over Borussia Dortmund last weekend.

Another Bayern newcomer, Xherdan Shaqiri, replaced Ribery on the left for the second half. He doubled Munich's lead with a curling free kick on 60 minutes, before setting up Bayern's subsequent two goals.

Bayern Munich's Swiss midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri celebrates scoring during the second semi-final football match Liga-Total-Cup FC Bayern Munich vs SV Werder Bremen in Hamburg, northern Germany, on August 4, 2012. AFP PHOTO/CHRISTOF STACHE (Photo credit should read CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP/GettyImages)
Shaqiri might not start, but he's an ideal replacement for injury candidates Robben and RiberyImage: AFP/Getty Images

Shaqiri is a highly rated young talent from double-winning Swiss side FC Basel. He'd waltz into many first teams, but is vying with Ribery and Arjen Robben for a spot on one of Bayern's flanks.

Mandzukic doubled his tally on 80 minutes after a slick dribble and clever pass from Shaqiri, but the Croat had no chance at a hat trick; he immediately made way for another new signing. Claudio Pizarro, a mainstay up front for Werder Bremen for years, completed the rout with two minutes left - volleying home a delivery from Shaqiri on the left.

After six Bundesliga teams crashed out of the cup in the first round in the scorching heat, Bayern might have been more nervous than usual going into this game. They managed to begin their competitive season with a win, less than a week before the start of their Bundesliga campaign.