FC Bayern Munich finished the first half of the Bundesliga with a dominant 4-0 (1-0) win against VfL Wolfsburg. With this, the team of coach Julian Nagelsmann increased their lead over pursuers Borussia Dortmund (Saturday, 6.30 p.m. at Hertha BSC) to nine points.
Thomas Müller gave Bayern the lead in their 400th Bundesliga game in the 7th minute. After the break, Dayot Upamecano (57th), Leroy Sane (59th) and Robert Lewandowski (87th) made it 4-0. Lewandowski scored his 43rd Bundesliga goal in the calendar year 2021, surpassing Gerd Müller’s record from 1972 (42).
The Munich team was so dominant over the entire game that the average whereabouts of all players were in the opposing half. “It was very, very difficult in the first half. We were actually pretty good and we tried to have possession. In the second half we had a little more control and we could apply more pressure. We know that teams are coming like today who stand in the back, “said Sane. Captain Manuel Neuer added: “It wasn’t that easy when two buses were parked there.”
FC Bayern’s next game is against Borussia Mönchengladbach on January 7th.
FC Bayern Munich – VfL Wolfsburg: The coach votes
Julian Nagelsmann (Bayern coach): “The first half was a bit more difficult, because Wolfsburg played even more disciplined. In the second it was impressive what we did. We won every ball before the center line. In the end it was deserved in height. For Robert ( Lewandowski) I was extremely happy, it was a very nice goal with his weak foot in quotation marks. “
Florian Kohfeldt (coach VfL Wolfsburg): “The defeat hurts. In the first half we played a decent game, didn’t allow much and had two huge chances to score. Then something happens that can’t happen against Bayern Munich, you concede the second goal. It’s good for us, that we can clear our heads now. In the second half of the season we will see another VfL Wolfsburg, I’m quite sure of that. “
FC Bayern Munich – VfL Wolfsburg: The analysis
Nagelsmann had to do without the injured Süle and Coman compared to the 5-0 win in Stuttgart. Upamecano and Sane returned to the starting eleven – and with that the team also returned to the three-and-a-half-chain tactic practiced for much of the first half of the season: Sane often slipped into the middle on the left and made room for Davies on the outside.
Wolfsburg defended extremely deeply, which is why, with their own possession, usually even the central defenders of FC Bayern moved almost 20 meters deep into the opposing half. The four offensive players tried to create spaces with permanent castling, but the last passes rarely found buyers. Thus, FC Bayern hardly got any dangerous final positions.
Müller’s 1-0 resulted from a long-range shot including a goalkeeping error by Casteels. If Munich lost the ball, they usually won it back quickly thanks to their strong pressing. Wolfsburg practically did not set any offensive accents, but through Weghorst came out of nowhere to two good chances (8th and 33rd).
After the break, FC Bayern continued to dominate in the same way, but more often found their way through the close-knit Wolfsburg defense network. After a missed double chance, Upamecano and Sane decided the game with their quick brace. Wolfsburg then made no move to combine forward. At Bayern, Sabitzer celebrated his comeback as a substitute.
The star of the game: Dayot Upamecano (FC Bayern Munich)
Returned to the starting XI after criticism of his performance and a bank place in Stuttgart – and showed an impeccable performance. Because Wolfsburg hardly set any offensive accents, Upamecano repeatedly moved up and gave a disguised director. Recorded the most ball contacts and wins at FC Bayern, headed the 2-0 and initiated the 4-0 with an ingenious chip.
The flop of the game: Renato Steffen (VfL Wolfsburg)
Actually planned for playful relief, but did not do justice to this role. Steffen was not involved in a single deal, had one of the weakest pass rates on Wolfsburg’s side and was the first player to be replaced.
