To laugh, to cry

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The Bavarians actually had a good laugh.

Actually

Photo: Matthias Balk / dpa

Shortly before Hansi Flick left the stadium, a reporter asked him to please tell us something new about Robert Lewandowski.

Lewandowski scored the first three goals in the 5-0 win against Eintracht Frankfurt and thus once again impressively demonstrated why he is currently considered the world's best striker.

Only in the past few months had so much been spoken and written about his qualities, which is why the almost pleading request to Flick for a statement with surprising value.

Lo and behold, Flick delivered.

What is more, what he said was a world sensation.

"Robert announced today that he would like to be replaced," said the Bayern coach, "maybe this is news that has never been seen before."

Indeed it was.

Lewandowski, up to now by his own claim an indispensable person who otherwise visibly reluctantly trudges off the pitch in the event of a tactical player swap in stoppage time, willingly vacate the field?

Incredible, but true.

The center forward finally explained how important such time-outs were to him in view of the tight schedule.

"Playing half an hour less than normal, that was already planned for me," said Lewandowski, referring to the away game 72 hours later, Tuesday evening in the Champions League at Lokomotiv Moscow - and added as a reason why he danced so happily from the lawn : "When you see how it goes and it's 3-0, you can just laugh."

Yes, it was actually a very cheerful afternoon for FC Bayern.

The fear of experiencing a bumpy return to everyday life in the Bundesliga after the gala against Atlético Madrid on Wednesday was quickly gone.

Bayern played once again in a frenzy, Lewandowski scored with left, with head, with right, to round off the fun, two substitutes were also congratulated on their goals: Leroy Sané scored after four weeks of injury and four minutes in the game to 4: 0, Jamal Musiala made the final score - with which new records were announced at the final whistle, Bayern's 22 goals are a record after five matchdays in the Bundesliga, as are Robert Lewandowski's ten goals.

So it's all very funny.

If only it hadn't been for that sad first minute of the game: With the bad injury of Alphonso Davies, the 19-year-old had twisted his neck after just 50 seconds in midfield and stayed where he was.

Thomas Müller, one of the first at the scene of the accident, called out to the onrushing club doctors in an immediate diagnosis: "The ankle."

And so it was.

A torn ligament in the ankle, plus a torn one, Hansi Flick spoke of a six to eight week break.

Means, the preliminary round should probably have run.

Davies hobbled through tears, supported by the doctors from the field, the supervisors on the edge of the field also looked visibly marked, above all the horrified sports director Hasan Salihamidzic, who repeatedly ran his hands over his face.

A shock for FC Bayern, but above all a very bitter setback for Davies himself. Exactly a year ago, in the last two games under Niko Kovac, he played as a left-back for the first time.

Under Hansi Flick he really got off to a good start there, became a regular player and crowned his outstanding season in Lisbon with his epic solo run in the quarter-finals against FC Barcelona and with the Champions League triumph against Paris St. Germain - just two months ago.

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Davies' starting eleven lasted just 50 seconds

Photo: LUKAS BARTH / POOL / EPA-EFE / Shutterstock

In this season, however, Davies did not get in step, he was also unable to convince in training.

He quickly lost his regular place to Lucas Hernández.

"He had a low lately," said Hansi Flick about the 19-year-old just a few days ago, "it is important that he gets back on track."

Against Frankfurt he would have had the opportunity to show himself, but after less than a minute the first serious injury in his young professional career was over.

Bayern's week-long failure should also hurt, but they also have options in the left-back position.

Lucas Hernández finds his strength after his first complicated year in Munich and slowly gives an idea of ​​why the club transferred a record transfer sum of 80 million euros to Atlético Madrid in the summer of 2019.

They also have David Alaba.

Coach Flick already indicated that the current defense chief could move back to the left defensive side.

In the center there is also a decent center-back pair with Niklas Süle and Jerome Boateng, maybe that would be a variant for Tuesday in Moscow.

Then they want to have fun again, preferably completely untroubled.

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