FRIENDLY MATCH (Telekom Cup)
THURSDAY 7TH AUGUST, 2025
(5.30pm BST)
BAYERN MUNICH 4(1) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0(0)
Bayern Munich scorers:-
Kane, 12
Coman, 61
Karl, 74
Kusi-Asare, 80
Attendance:- 72,000
Referee:- Robert Hartmann
Teams:-
Bayern (4-2-3-1) :- 1. Neuer (Capt.); 27. Laimer (sub 23. Boey, 67), 4. Tah (sub 30. Kiala, 67), 2. Upamecano (sub 3. Kim Min-Jae, 67), 44. Stanisic (sub 22. Guerreiro, 67); 8. Goretzka (sub 20. Bischof, 67), 6. Kimmich (sub 47. Daiber, 67); 11. Coman (sub 46. Karl, 67), 17. Olise (sub 24. Wanner, 67), 14. Luis Diaz (sub 36. Wisdom Mike, 77); 9. Kane (sub 41. Kusi-Asare, 67)
Subs not used:- 26. Ulreich, 40. Urbig (GKs); 49. Dalpiaz; 38. Chavez
No bookings
Spurs:- 1. Vicario; 23. Pedro Porro, 17. Romero (Capt.), 37. Van de Ven, 24. Spence (sub 33. Davies, 64); 30. Bentancur (sub 8. Bissouma, 82), 6. Palhinha (sub 15. Bergvall, 46); 20. Kudus, 29. Sarr (sub 14. Gray, 82) 22. Johnson (sub 28. Odobert, 64); 9. Richarlison (sub 11. Tel, 70)
Subs not used:- 31. Kinsky, 40. Austin; 4. Danso, 80. Vuskovic
Booked:- Romero (foul on Kane)
Worrying defeat at the Allianz Stadium
Spurs' final pre-season friendly ended in a worrying defeat to Bayern Munich. At half-time, Spurs were doing well to be only 1-0 down. Harry Kane scored a 12th minute goal, then missed a penalty conceded by Spurs' lates addition Joao Palhinha, playing against his home club.
Spurs were getting very little out of the German officials. Referee Robert Hartmann's assistants seemed reluctant to wave their flags for offside. Kane looked offside when he scored, and the penalty decision was harsh. Cristian Romero was booked for a foul on Kane in the first half, and the Spurs skipper took time to have a word with the officials at half-time.
Perhaps Spurs did not apply themselves more fully, out of fear for more decisions going against them. However, the fact is, we were overrun for most of the game, even for a while when Vincent Kompany changed his outfield players midway through the second half. Two of their youngsters scored cracking goals.
In that first half, Goretzka missed three good chances. Spurs were on the back foot too much. They did not play out efficiently and the only time Neuer was bothered was by a Richarlison effort.
Having reached the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup where they lost 2-0 to our European Super Cup opponents PSG, Bayern had only played one pre-season friendly. They did not look tired to me, and this result is disturbing when you think we face PSG next Wednesday.
James Maddison was added to the injury list this week and sadly will miss most of the coming season with an ACL knee injury. Once again Dominic Solanke and Destiny Udogie were not involved. We must hope Udogie is fit soon, because I'm afraid Djed Spence could not control the very impressive Kingsley Coman on Bayern's right wing. Joao Palhinha had very little game time in the Club World Cup and presumably has had a limited pre-season before his move to Spurs on loan. He will need to gain fitness and was replaced by Lucas Bergvall at half-time.
Dejan Kulusevski will not be fit for the start of the season, and just like last season, we will be without a playmaker. Thomas Frank will be hoping that Pape Sarr or Bergvall can fulfil that role.
Apart from Palhinha, another former Bayern player was in the Spurs ranks. Mathys Tel was presented with a very nice bouquet of flowers before the game.
Bayern included recent signings Jonathan Tah (from Bayer Leverkusen) and Luis Diaz (from Liverpool) in their starting line-up. The front four of Coman, Olise, Diaz and Kane was formidable.
Spurs listed 10 substitutes, and this week have farmed out many of their promising youngsters on loan.
The home side kicked off and after two minutes had a free kick 22 yards out after Olise had been sandwiched by Richarlison and Kudus. Olise took the kick but pushed his left-footed shot wide. Spence had a promising run into the opposition half but was fouled. Unfortunately, too often, Spurs default direction was backwards, and it was just like watching last season.
Kane was fouled 28 yards out and after the free kick Goretzka (looking offside) skied his shot. Pedro Porro sent Kudus away with a good ball, but Spence was called for a foul when receiving the cross beyond Neuer's goal.
Kane opened the scoring with a left-footed shot which beat Vicario to his right, after a long ball by Olise. Harry did look offside, and his celebration was muted. Very soon after this Stanisic was fouled by Palhinha in the box, but Kane slipped when taking the spot kick which passed well over the bar.
Kudus fielded another long ball and fed Richarlison who had our first shot on goal - held by Neuer. Spence got deep into the box and was challenged by Laimer. Initially, the referee gave a corner, but then decided it was a goal kick. There might even have been a penalty had we got VAR!
Vicario saved well from Goretzka after Luis Diaz's pass. Diaz also gave Coman a chance, but Van de Ven cleared that cross.
Sarr was fouled in midfield and after the free kick, Romero found Richarlison with a decent pass and Richarlison tested Neuer who saved just inside his right post.
Goretzka missed again after good work by Coman and Kane. Spurs had a good attack down the left side when Bentancur sent a pass to Johnson on the left wing. His ball found Sarr, but the defender did just enough to put off Sarr in the box. Goretzka pulled a right-footed shot wide after a Coman pass.
Kane's free kick (after the Romero booking) was blocked. Kane had another shot pass in front of goal where Coman just failed to convert at the back post. Coman had another right-footed shot go wide. We could easily have been 4-0 down (or more) at the interval. Bayern were dominating possession 68-32% at this stage and had 15 shots to our two.
On came Bergvall and he took on the number 10 role ahead of Bentancur and Sarr. Tah blocked Richharlison's effort after a good ball by Spence. Spurs had another escape when Olise fired over after receiving from Kane. After a corner won when Diaz had looked offside, Vicario dived to his right and palmed away another Olise left-footed shot.
Bergvall advanced to lead a good attack, but Kudus overhit his cross/shot. A Spurs corner was cleared by Kane! Kane wanted a foul when on the attack but play continued and Laimer fired over. However, it wasn't long before Spence was overpowered by Laimer who fed Olise. The former Crystal Palace star beat Vicario with a super Left foot curler. Spurs had been playing in the wrong direction again.
Spence was replaced by Ben Davies. Odobert took over from Johnson, who does not look comfortable in that left wing position.
Vicario made a decent save from Kane's right foot shot after another Coman cross. Now Vincent Kompany switched almost all of his outfield personnel, and the new team included several young players.
Richarlison headed wide back across goal after a good cross by Pedro Porro, before being replaced by Tel, who was warmly received.
The home crowd were now enjoying a Mexican wave. They soon celebrated a third goal, scored by 17-year-old Lennart Karl, who scored a goal similar to that of Olise, taking a pass from another young player - Daiber.
Three-nil became four all too quickly. This time 18-year-old Swede Jonah Kusi-Asare beat Vicario just inside the post.
Odobert had a shot blocked and Spurs did try hard to score a consolation goal, but their best chance by Tel was thwarted by his former colleague - 39-year-old Manuel Neuer.
Thomas Frank says, "We will learn from this." Spurs only have 6 days until the European Super Cup Final in Udine against World Club Cup runners-up PSG.
Top of page | Spurs Odyssey Friendly match reports 2025-26