When Michael Olise found the back of the net twice at the Allianz Arena on Saturday, the roar from the 34,500‑strong crowd made it clear Bayern Munich were sending a message ahead of the 2025/26 season. The German champions edged Olympique Lyon 2‑1 in a rain‑spattered preseason friendly that marked the first competitive minutes under head coach Thomas Tuchel’s revamped tactical blueprint. Olise’s 53rd‑minute penalty and a follow‑up strike nine minutes later gave the home side a cushion, while Alejandro Rodríguez rescued a point for the French side in the 83rd minute.
Match Overview
The encounter kicked off at 15:40 CEST on 2 August 2025, with both clubs fielding line‑ups that reflected their summer recruitment strategies. Bayern Munich deployed a blend of seasoned internationals and academy graduates, while Olympique Lyon leaned on a mix of veteran backs and emerging attackers. Apart from the scoring action, the match served as a laboratory for new positional drills and a chance for the coaching staff to assess fitness levels under real‑match pressure.
Tactical Shifts and Line‑ups
Tuchel’s approach was anything but static. The first half featured a back‑four of Lucas Boey, Dayot Upamecano, Kim Min‑jae and Raphaël Guerreiro, anchored by veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. In midfield, Leon Goretzka paired with the teenage prodigy Tom Bischof, giving the side a mix of experience and dynamism. Up front, a fluid front line of Lennart Karl, Paul Wanner and Kingsley Coman supported the lone striker position.
After the break the squad was reshuffled. Olise, who had been on the bench, entered the fray and immediately altered the tempo. Tuchel switched to a 4‑3‑3 with Olise on the wing, supported by a deeper‑lying midfielder, allowing Bayern to press higher and exploit Lyon’s vulnerable flanks. The second‑half formation proved decisive, with Olise’s movement creating space for both the penalty and the subsequent open‑play goal.
Key Moments and Player Performances
The opening half was a study in possession dominance. Bayern held roughly 58 % of the ball, yet chances were thin. A promising volley from Lennart Karl in the 11th minute brushed the post, while Paul Wanner’s effort later that hour clanged off the cross‑bar. Lyon’s counter‑attack threat materialised when striker Moreira tried a one‑on‑one with Kim Min‑jae, only to shoot wide.
The breakthrough came eight minutes after the restart. Olise, pressed inside the box, earned a foul and calmly slotted the ensuing penalty past Lyon keeper Mathieu Patouillet. Less than ten minutes later, a swift combination on the right flank saw Olise finish a low‑driven shot into the bottom corner, doubling Bayern’s lead. The French side responded when Alejandro Rodríguez, fed by a quick break‑away from Khalis Merah, struck home in the 83rd minute, making the final score 2‑1.
Yellow cards peppered the second half: Jeff Reine‑Adélaïde and Jean Lucas (Lyon) in the 50s, Konrad Laimer (Bayern) in the 68th, and Melvin Bard (Lyon) in stoppage time. These cautions reflected the intensity as both sides tested defensive discipline.
"Olise showed exactly why we signed him," Tuchel said in the post‑match press conference. "His composure under pressure and his timing in the box are exactly what we need at this stage of the season."
Lyon coach Peter Bosz praised his side’s resilience. "We knew the first half would be tough against a team of Bayern’s calibre. Alejandro’s goal was a reminder that we can still be dangerous up front," he added.
Reactions and Next Steps
Fans on social media lauded Olise’s impact, with many dubbing him "the new Bayern hero" in the early stages of his German adventure. The victory also drops a psychological marker ahead of Bayern’s next test in the Telekom Cup 2025Munich against Tottenham Hotspur, a match that will further gauge the squad’s cohesion.
Statistically, Bayern completed 487 passes, with a 86 % accuracy rate, while Lyon managed 421 passes at 81 % accuracy. Olise contributed three key passes and covered 11.2 km, a respectable workload for his first competitive minutes.
Historical Context: Bayern’s Pre‑Season Evolution
Since the 2017/18 campaign, Bayern’s pre‑season friendlies have become a platform for integrating youth prospects. The 2022‑23 tour in the United States, for example, saw 12 academy graduates earn minutes, signaling a long‑term commitment to home‑grown talent. This year’s approach, however, goes a step further by deliberately swapping entire line‑ups at halftime, a tactic rarely employed in elite European preseason fixtures.
The pattern mirrors a broader trend among top clubs: using the preseason as a mini‑tournament to test squad depth and tactical flexibility. Barcelona’s 2024‑25 pre‑season, for instance, featured three distinct formations across four matches, a strategy that paid dividends when they clinched the La Liga title a few months later.
For Bayern, the real test will be translating this experimental phase into consistency during the Bundesliga grind, where injuries and fixture congestion often expose gaps. If Olise continues his early form and the defensive unit solidifies around Upamecano and Kim Min‑jae, the Bavarians could enjoy a smoother transition into league play.
What’s Next for Bayern?
The next hurdle arrives on 7 August 2025 when Bayern faces Tottenham Hotspur in the Telekom Cup. That encounter will pit Tuchel’s side against Harry Kane’s former club, offering a litmus test for both the new attacking options and the defensive shape. A strong performance could cement Olise’s role as a regular starter, while also giving Tuchel confidence in his rotating squad approach.
Meanwhile, Lyon will head back to France to fine‑tune their own preparations ahead of Ligue 1’s opening fixtures. Their chief focus appears to be tightening defensive transitions, a weakness that Bayern exploited repeatedly in the second half.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Michael Olise’s performance impact Bayern’s attacking options?
Olise’s brace demonstrates his ability to score under pressure and his knack for finding space in crowded areas. Coach Tuchel now has a versatile winger who can operate both as a traditional wide player and an inside‑forward, giving Bayern more tactical fluidity ahead of the Bundesliga campaign.
What were the key tactical changes after halftime?
Tuchel switched from a 4‑2‑3‑1 to a more aggressive 4‑3‑3, inserting Olise on the left wing and moving a midfielder deeper to protect the back line. The shift increased Bayern’s pressing intensity and created overloads on Lyon’s right side, leading directly to the two goals.
Why is the Telekom Cup 2025 important for Bayern?
The Telekom Cup pits Bayern against Tottenham Hotspur, a side featuring former Premier League star Harry Kane. It’s the first competitive test of the new squad’s cohesion and an early indicator of how well the defensive unit will cope with high‑pressing opponents.
How did the weather affect the match?
A steady drizzle kept the pitch slick, which slowed the ball’s roll and forced both teams to adjust their passing rhythm. The conditions favored Bayern’s technically gifted players, who could keep the ball glued to the surface, while Lyon’s long‑range attempts were often mis‑directed.
What does this result mean for Lyon’s preseason?
Lyon can take solace from their ability to find a goal late on, but the defensive lapses that allowed two Bayern goals highlight areas needing work before Ligue 1 kicks off. Coach Bosz will likely focus on tighter marking and quicker transitions in the weeks ahead.
1 Responses
Olise's quick adaptation shows the impact of integrating young talent into a senior squad. His two goals illustrate the depth that Bayern adds through strategic signings. The timing of his brace, coming early in the second half, suggests the coach's tactical switch paid immediate dividends. It also signals that other young prospects may receive similar opportunities.