Bayern Munich wrap up preseason affairs with one final game. They faced FC Heidenheim, who are currently in the 2. Bundesliga and have already begun their season as a result. The last time these two sides faced off, it was a near-loss for Bayern, who barely scraped by with a 3-3 draw at home.
This game was vastly different, featuring mostly the B-team and many getting their last shot at proving their mettle to the coach. Some did exceptionally, some had a mediocre outing and a few proved to be best
on the bench. Let’s look at the observations from the game.
The first goal… let’s talk.
Who was at fault here? Probably everyone.
The sequence began with Felipe Chávez, passing to a heavily marked Arijon Ibrahimović. The latter was quickly dispossessed by Heidenheim players. Then, Bara Sapoko Ndiaye got on the ball. Ndiaye attempted to clear the ball but it fell perfectly in line with the run Yannik Wagner made. Wagner outran the entire defense, leaving Dayot Upamecano trailing behind. This drew out keeper Jonas Urbig, and Wagner beat Urbig to send the ball into the back of the net.
At first glance, it may look like Ibrahimović‘s fault, but the 20-year-old was already getting tugged by players prior to receiving the ball. Midfield battles need to be better handled than this. Now this is where perhaps the biggest issue with the game comes in.
Footballing identity?
Who was the tactician in-charge tonight? It certainly did not feel entirely like Vincent Kompany. A few elements of Hansi Flick’s high line were evident. As if that was not handicapping the team enough, there were zero natural defensive midfielders on pitch. You read that right, zero.
If the expectation was that Bara Sapoko Ndiaye control game tempo on his own, there seems to be no rationale visible to it. He is certainly a classic #8. However, a youngster whose talent and inexperience are equally evident in his game should not be entrusted with being the lone midfielder.
Surrounded by players like Chávez, Ibrahimović and Maycon Cardozo, who hardly have a defensive bite to their game, Ndiaye could not have been expected to deal with things alone. This put undue pressure on the defense to manage things. Dayot Upamecano was either constantly outrun or he was the last resort. Hiroki It0 had a modest performance, but did not transform the game. What was particularly painful to watch was attacks flowing through a hapless Sacha Boey, who looked grossly confused. His tackles are just a bit off every instance and he was evidently the leaky spot. Wagner and Julian Nieheus took full advantage of this circumstance and began routing their attacks primarily through their wing.
It is unlikely that this series of events repeat when the season begins. But one thing is certain — the manager has prepared himself to bid goodbye to a few based on their performances tonight.
Game changer
Before the trio of Harry Kane, Luis Díaz and Michael Olise were on, whatever possession was held by the team was immediately scrambled by Heidenheim. The first goal had come off a set-piece and the second was a penalty. Open play was certainly not Bayern’s comfort zone. It was only after the three came on that Bayern looked like a genuine threat.
The most crucial change was the first — Luis Díaz coming on changed the structure entirely. Stretching out Heidenheim means he created the spaces to advance further attacks. Nathaniel Brown too deserves a mention for being a show-stealer. His overlapping with Díaz was fantastic to watch. This inevitably led to the third goal that he scored. Bringing on Michael Olise and Harry Kane added another dimension. Kane is Bayern’s cogwheel, a focal point. This further centralises attacks and ensures there is structured passing. Olise’s pace and ability to beat defenders adds to this setup.
A note on Musiala
What happened to Jamal Musiala is incredibly awful and one can only hope he recovers sooner than later. He had hardly a few minutes on the pitch. Though him jogging off the pitch was reassuring, it still indicates nothing. We will just have to wait for an official statement.
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