A show of force
A DFB-Pokal semi-final is meant to be competitive. Vincent Kompany had other ideas. Right now, the gap between Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen is so wide that a meeting between the two sides looked like a first division team playing an opponent from the second division.
Leverkusen were utterly helpless. Helpless in attack, in midfield, and in defense. The free-flowing system devised by Vincent Kompany was sufficient break down their setup time and time again, forcing Mark Flekken into an ever increasing
number of saves. When die Werkself actually managed to claw back possession, they were quickly smothered by a counter-press that left them unable to breathe.
One shot on target was all they managed. A single shot that troubled Manuel Neuer. Michael Olise ran Edmond Tapsoba ragged, while Luis Díaz turned Jarell Quansah’s hair white. Did Patrick Schick even get the ball? By the time he got a touch, Dayot Upamecano was already closing him down, and every other Leverkusen player was pinned back in their own half.
It is the kind of performance that shows that Bayern Munich have utterly outgrown any and all possible competition domestically this season. From minute 1 to minute 90, there was no panic, no sense of urgency — just a dominant, self-assured aura of inevitability. Six years after their last Pokalfinale, Vincent Kompany has brought Bayern Munich back to a final in Berlin.
Are they really back?
Two players hold the key to a successful season.
Jamal Musiala is a phenomenon, a force to be reckoned with when fit. This was his first start since the extent of Serge Gnabry’s injury was diagnosed, meaning the first time he’s had to play without any potential understudies to take his place. With his back to the wall, Musiala was forced to perform, and he did.
The first goal by Harry Kane came from a well-timed run and assist by the 23-year-old. The rest of the game was more of the same, with Musiala getting into solid positions and making great interplay with Olise on the right. He was active in the press and did his fair share defensively. Not everything he did came off, but is a glimpse of what Bayern Munich can do when he is fit.
Alphonso Davies came on late in the second half for Konrad Laimer, and immediately demonstrated how much of a difference maker he can be. The Canadian left-back foiled two big counterattacking opportunities by Leverkusen, simply because he is impossible to beat in a straight line. He still struggles to link up with Luis Díaz, though that is more down to the Colombian’s unfamiliarity with a left-footed fullback who can actually overlap.
Davies and Musiala, if fit, bring new dimensions to this already dominant Vincent Kompany team. If they are fit enough to play, and take a serious role in proceedings, then Bayern Munich could go up another gear this season.
A question of game management
Though Bayern Munich dominated the game from start to finish, the way they went about it deviated from the norm. It gives us a clue about how Vincent Kompany intends to manage big games.
In the first phase, from minute 1 to 60, Bayern Munich played their usual game, attacking with a high line and intense gegenpressing. This resulted in a flurry of chances that really should have been converted into goals. However, once it became increasingly clear that a 2nd goal would be difficult to achieve, Kompany switched to phase two.
In phase two, Bayern dialed down the intensity of the press, allowing Leverkusen some breathing room on the ball. The team settled into a mid-block outside of possession, only pressing when the opponent entered their half. Less risks were taken in possession, there were fewer big challenges and Hail Mary passes. Overall, it was a much more conservative approach.
The final phase began in the last 10 minutes, when Jamal Musiala was subbed for Kim Min-jae. By that point, Leverkusen were throwing on attackers to try and get the equalizer. For the first time since the 2nd half against PSG, Kompany had his team dig deep and weather the storm. Bayern Munich defended in a low block and chose to counter for ten entire minutes. It actually resulted in a goal, but that was incidental to the actual intention — to prevent Leverkusen from getting an equalizer.
The difference in approach may seem intuitive, but it isn’t an easy thing for a coach to pull off. Deliberately stepping on the brake has consequences for the team’s momentum, and making an offense-first team like Bayern defend in a low block is just asking for mistakes to happen. The fact that Vincent Kompany can pull it off says a lot about his coaching style and philosophy.
Hansi Flick, for comparison, would have had them go all-out-attack until the final whistle, scoreline be damned. Thomas Tuchel would have pulled his team back into a shell as soon as it became 1-0. Kompany strikes a balance between the two extremes, without compromise. The attack is still excellent, the defense still kept a clean sheet.
There is one question, of course: Why? The answer is probably fatigue. The players on the pitch looked noticeably slower and less dynamic as the game wore on. Kompany probably came up with this plan to make sure his team sees through a result, no matter what happens on the pitch. It worked perfectly vs Leverkusen. Now, the question is, will it work again?
Miscellaneous observations
- Mark Flekken had an insane game. Shades of Yann Sommer’s 19 saves for Gladbach back in 2022.
- Harry Kane missed more chances than he should have. He better get those shooting boots looked at before the PSG game.
- Vincent Kompany should not select a single starter from this game to play against Mainz on the weekend. Now that the Bundesliga is won, it is time to be aggressive with rotation. The team cannot afford to fade in the 2nd half of a Champions League semi-final, whatever the tactics might be.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
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