Bayern Munich Wrap Up Pre-Season with 2-1 Win Over Grasshoppers
FC Bayern Munich concluded their summer pre-season campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Swiss side Grasshopper Club Zürich, as Vincent Kompany used the final friendly to rotate his squad and give the spotlight to some of the club’s most promising young talents.
After an impressive win against Tottenham Hotspur in their previous outing, Bayern’s head coach made several changes, handing debuts to 18-year-olds Felipe Chavez and Magnus Dalpiaz. Also featured were academy standouts Younes Kousassi-Asare (18) and Lennart Karl (17), both of whom made an instant impact.
It was the youth who shone brightest on the Alpine stage. In the 21st minute, Kousassi-Asare fed the ball to Tom Bischof, who drew two defenders before slipping a clever pass to Lennart Karl. The young No. 42 showed maturity beyond his years—controlling with his right foot and firing left-footed into the top corner past Justin Hammel, the Grasshoppers goalkeeper.
Just minutes after the scheduled water break, needed due to the soaring Alpine temperatures, Karl turned provider. He released Kousassi-Asare with a slick through ball, and the teenage forward coolly slotted home to make it 2-0 in the 26th minute.
Grasshoppers responded early in the second half through Loris Giandomenico, who converted a pass from Samuel Marques to cut the deficit. But Bayern held on to secure a confidence-boosting win ahead of the new season.
Final Score: Grasshopper Club Zürich 1–2 FC Bayern Munich
Goals:
0:1 – Lennart Karl (assist: Tom Bischof, 21')
0:2 – Younes Kousassi-Asare (assist: Lennart Karl, 26')
1:2 – Loris Giandomenico (assist: Samuel Marques, 51')