Bayern Crush Salzburg 5-0: Teen Star Karl Shines in Friendly Rout

Bayern Munich delivered a commanding 5-0 victory over RB Salzburg in a club friendly at Red Bull Arena, marking their only preparation match ahead of the Bundesliga's return.

The match, held on January 6, 2026, at 14:00 UTC, showcased Bayern's dominance despite several key absences due to injuries. Salzburg missed Jannik Schuster, John Mellberg, Lucas Gourna-Douath, Maurits Kjærgaard, Sota Kitano, and Takumu Kawamura, while Bayern were without Alphonso Davies, Jamal Musiala, Joshua Kimmich, and Min-Jae Kim[1].

Bayern controlled possession from the outset but took time to break through. Salzburg goalkeeper Alexander Schlager denied Michael Olise early, and Jonas Urbig saved Sota Kitano's long-range shot for Bayern. A crucial goalline block by David Santos Daiber kept Salzburg level until late in the first half[3].

The breakthrough came just before halftime when Ryo Itō scored from the edge of the box after Schlager parried Harry Kane's shot, with Jannik Schuster's deflection aiding the goal[3].

In the second half, 17-year-old Lennart Karl emerged as the star, netting a brace and providing an assist amid a tough week personally. Vincent Kompany substituted him late, with Maycon Cardozo assisting Tom Bischof's injury-time goal to seal the rout[3].

Bayern now prepare to defend their Bundesliga title against VfL Wolfsburg at home, while Salzburg, recent Austrian champions runners-up, have two more friendlies before their Europa League opener[3].

This result highlights Bayern's depth and readiness, with live updates available on platforms tracking H2H records and stats[1][2].