Set-piece chaos sends Bayern into the next round of the DFB Pokal | OneFootball

Bayern Munich advance to the next round of the DFB Pokal after surviving an utterly chaotic night in Köpenick - a match defined almost entirely by set pieces and defensive mishaps.

Three of Bayern’s goals came directly from dead-ball situations, while Union Berlin clawed their way back with two converted penalties from centre-back Leopold Querfeld. What began with Bayern scoring after just 33 seconds evolved into a wild five-goal rollercoaster, filled with own goals, VAR drama, and a late Union siege that nearly forced extra time.

In a game where open-play precision vanished and every ball into the box felt dangerous, Bayern’s set-piece resurgence ultimately proved decisive in a frantic 3–2 victory over hosts Union Berlin.

Here is our detailed match report for the game:

First half:

It took Bayern Munich 33 minutes to register a shot on target in their recent Bundesliga meeting with Union Berlin (2-2). In this DFB Pokal clash, they needed just 33 seconds. Michael Olise forced Frederik Rønnow into action almost immediately, signalling that this would be a very different night for the Rekordmeister.

Union Berlin, however, refused to sit back early on. Steffen Baumgart’s side pressed high in the opening ten minutes, disrupting Bayern’s buildup and forcing several rushed clearances from a side that nevertheless arrived with their strongest available XI. The Bavarians have made no secret of how seriously they are taking the competition this year - after all, they haven’t reached the semi-finals since 2019/20.

But if Bayern have been under scrutiny for their set-piece inefficiency lately, they rewrote the narrative in emphatic - and slightly bizarre - fashion.

In the 16th minute, a Joshua Kimmich corner sailed over a crowd of players and struck Union striker Ilyas Ansah, who could only watch as the ball trickled into his own net. Bayern were ahead through a slice of luck, but the breakthrough immediately eased the early pressure.

Just seven minutes later, it was déjà vu for the home supporters. Another Kimmich corner, another pinpoint delivery, and this time Harry Kane met it decisively to bury his 25th goal in 21 games this season. Bayern were 2-0 up and seemingly cruising.

The match, however, had a twist ready.

Kane thought he had added his second in the 37th minute, only for the flag to go up for offside. VAR then intervened - but not for the disallowed goal. Instead, replays showed that Jonathan Tah had touched the ball with his left arm inside his own box two minutes earlier. After a lengthy review, Union were awarded a penalty, and centre-back Leopold Querfeld stepped up to convert coolly. Suddenly, it was 2-1 and game on again.

But the first half wasn’t finished with its drama. Bayern won a free-kick in a threatening position, and with set pieces dominating the story, the next moment felt inevitable. Kimmich whipped another teasing ball into the area, and Union defender Diogo Leite turned the cross into his own net just before the interval - the hosts’ second own goal of the night and Bayern’s third goal created from a dead ball.

At half-time, Bayern lead 3-1, with all three goals coming from set-piece situations - a remarkable reversal of their recent struggles and a chaotic opening 45 minutes in Köpenick.

Second half:

The second half in Köpenick began with a moment that silenced the travelling Bayern supporters: just two minutes after the restart, Aleksandar Pavlović sat down on the pitch in clear discomfort and was unable to continue. Vincent Kompany immediately sent on Leon Goretzka, though it remained unclear whether the substitution was precautionary or a sign of something more serious for the young midfielder.

What followed fit perfectly into the chaotic script of this DFB Pokal tie:

Union Berlin were awarded their second penalty of the evening, this time after Harry Kane elbowed an Union Berlin player inside his own box. Bayern’s star striker went from goalscorer to culprit, and Union’s unexpected hero of the night - centre-back Leopold Querfeld - once again took responsibility. Just as in the first half, he converted with confidence, reducing the deficit to 3-2 and reigniting belief inside the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.

Bayern reacted with urgency. The Rekordmeister peppered Frederik Rønnow’s goal with a flurry of attempts, but the Danish keeper stood tall, parrying and claiming everything that came his way. Despite the pressure, the decisive fourth Bayern goal refused to arrive.

The drama escalated further when both sides came within millimetres of scoring. Tom Rothe nearly levelled for Union, while at the other end Luis Díaz forced a scramble that rolled agonisingly close to the line - but in both cases, goal-line heroics kept the score unchanged.

Sensing Bayern’s growing nervousness, Union pushed higher and harder. The final 15 minutes belonged almost entirely to the hosts, who swarmed Kompany’s backline and forced sloppy errors in buildup. The stadium crackled with belief as Union hunted the equaliser.

The biggest chance fell - once again - to Leopold Querfeld, remarkably the biggest attacking threat for Union on the night despite being a centre-back. His close-range header flashed just wide of the post, drawing a collective gasp from the stands and immense relief from the Bayern bench.

In the end, Union Berlin lacked only the final touch to complete their comeback. Bayern, powered by three set-piece goals, just about survived a frenetic second half to book their place in the next round of the DFB Pokal.

Full-time: Union Berlin 2-3 FC Bayern Munich.