Bundesliga

No less impressive than Dortmund

Published

3 years ago

August 15, 2021

The FC Bayern Munich presented themselves in the Bundesliga opener against Borussia Mönchengladbach changeable and only got one point. Nevertheless, this performance was no less impressive than Borussia Dortmund’s gala against Eintracht Frankfurt. A comment.

Nobody really knew exactly how this could actually happen, but suddenly Yann Sommer was the protagonist of this evening. His legs and arms shot around and mostly landed exactly where a degree from FC Bayern was just flying to. In the end, the Borussia Mönchengladbach keeper had eight saves, four of them against Robert Lewandowski.

Where did this flood of goalscoring opportunities for FC Bayern suddenly come from in the 1-1 draw? And the dominance anyway? Do you know more? Wasn’t FC Bayern just extremely desolate in the initial phase? Hadn’t the players in red lined up one ball loss after the next, outbid each other with positional errors, just looked tired and lacked any offensive esprit?

Yes they did. But as players in red they were also identified as those of the nine-time-in-a-row champions FC Bayern. Not only are they the most talented group of footballers in the country, they are also the most resilient. Corresponding evidence they have provided in abundance in recent years, the next against Gladbach followed.

Looking at the developments at FC Bayern since the start of preparations, the first quarter of an hour of the opening game and the subsequent reaction of the team, it can be said that this appearance should have frustrated the competition, which was lurking for an end to Munich’s permanent dominance. This performance was no less impressive than Borussia Dortmund’s 5-2 gala against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday evening, after which captain Marco Reus warned Konstanz and referred to the Munich team.

The performance of FC Bayern was of course impressive not because of the performance itself and certainly not because of the point gain, but because of the way in which the imponderables were dealt with.

Grades: Two youngsters convince, two fives for Bavaria

1/31

In the opening game of the Bundesliga season 2021/22, Borussia Mönchengladbach and FC Bayern Munich split 1: 1 (1: 1). Here you can find the grades and individual reviews of the two teams.

2/31

YANN SOMMER: First on the spot against Lewandowski (14th), then again, but even better (26th). Also thwarted Stanisic well (37th). After the break two strong feet against Davies and Lewandowski. Powerless when conceding a goal. Grade: 1.5.

3/31

STEFAN LAINER: I was very lucky that Gnabry was offside after his bad pass (8th). Shortly afterwards involved in winning the ball, which resulted in the 1-0. Can make more of his header chance (54th), good cross to Thuram (77th). Note 3.

4/31

MATTHIAS GINTER: Clarified and stable in the duels, more than half of which he won. So stayed without wobbles and was always attentive. Came on most of the clarifying actions at Borussia. Note 3.

5/31

NICO ELVEDI: Much too immobile in the duel against Lewandowski when equalizing, the goal is on his cap. Was too surprised when he shot to the right of the gate (23rd). Grade: 4.5.

6/31

JOE SCALLY: The 18-year-old, who is actually at home on the right, made his Bundesliga debut – as a left-back. He certainly didn’t succeed in everything, but he delivered an absolutely decent performance. Good pace and strong tackle rate. Note 3.

7/31

CHRISTOPH KRAMER: As usual, strong against the ball and very attentive, especially just before the break, when he thwarted a promising FCB attack. Strong in conquering the ball, which led to the 1-0. Grade: 2.5.

8/31

FLORIAN NEUHAUS: Outstanding solo and great assist for Herrmann in his early big chance (6th). Failed with a good volley shot by Neuer (55th). Strong in duels, many ball conquests. Grade: 2.

9/31

PATRICK HERRMANN: Lots of light, but also some shadow: His left-hand shot only just missed (4th), shortly afterwards he spoiled the great opportunity described. Super pressing and strong pre-assist at 1-0. A bad bad pass (35th). Grade: 2.5.

10/31

LARS STINDL: Would have taken the lead if Herrmann’s cross pass had arrived (6th). Very clever, then, his sling template on Plea before the 1-0. Neuer defeated heavily after his great low shot (70th). Grade: 2.5.

11/31

HANNES WOLF: Fought twice as many duels (18) as the second-best Gladbacher in the first half and won half. Lots of tackles against the ball, but with the most ball losses and poor passing rate. Improved after the break. Grade: 4.

12/31

ALASSANE PLEA: Asserted himself well and hung up early for Herrmann (4th). With his goal to 1-0 ice cold in the end. Great opening pass to Wolf (39th). After a little over an hour it was over. Grade: 2.5.

13/31

MARCUS THURAM: Came in the 64th for Plea and immediately made a big splash. Shortly afterwards he was able to clap for Stindl. Slid past 2: 1 (77th) – the goal has to fall. Got two penalties. Grade: 2.

14/31

JONAS HOFMANN: Herrmann came into play in the 64th minute. Fought three tackles and won none. Otherwise eagerly against the ball, but without much impetus. Grade: 3.5.

15/31

KEANAN BENNETTS: Wolf went down for him after 72 minutes. Came on 15 ball actions and did nothing wrong. No rating.

16/31

LASZLO BENES: Substituted for Neuhaus in the final minute. No rating.

17/31

MANUEL NEUER: Had so little to do that he got involved in the game setup even more than usual. Had more contact with the ball than Leroy Sane and Leon Goretzka. Impeccable pass rate. Note 3.

18/31

JOSIP STANISIC: The 21-year-old often moved in from the right side of defense, helping Bayern regain control of the ball. Active and noticeable. Second fastest Bavarian after Davies. Good chance. Appealing, cheeky appearance. Grade: 2.5.

19/31

NIKLAS SÜLE: Somewhat surprisingly given preference over Nianzou, the central defender showed a mostly decent performance from the middle of the first half. Resolute in a duel, he played many of his passes in the opposing half. Grade: 4.

20/31

DAYOT UPAMECANO: The newcomer from Leipzig looked unhappy at 0-1, although he wasn’t to blame for the goal. Sometimes too carefree in his actions. Caused two penalties that weren’t given for whatever reason. Grade: 5.

21/31

ALPHONSO DAVIES: Catastrophic playing error in midfield in front of Gladbacher 1-0. You could tell that he had only been in team training for a few days. But increased enormously in the course of the game, especially valuable up front. Grade: 3.5.

22/31

JOSHUA KIMMICH: In the build-up of the game, I often fell between the central defenders, prepared the 1-1 with a corner. He can certainly do better, but boss again immediately. Grade: 2.5.

23/31

LEON GORETZKA: One of the things you noticed most of all was the lack of training: Less on the ball than Neuer goalkeeper, hardly surprising actions. Grade: 4.5.

24/31

SERGE GNABRY: The same applies to him as to Goretzka. Much too inconspicuous, much too predictable. Grade: 5.

25/31

THOMAS MÜLLER: Only Lewandowski had fewer ball contacts than he did in the first half. Above all, Müller interpreted the rooms at the very front. After the break, he tried more than a driver. With manageable success. Grade: 4.

26/31

LEROY SANE: Introduced himself with a loss of the ball in front of Herrmann’s big chance at the beginning, hardly brought anything forward. But the stronger Stanisic got, the more active and better he got too. Grade: 4.

27/31

ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI: Who else should have scored the first Bayern goal of the season! Driven his team forward after the weak start and could have scored more often. Grade 2.5.

28/31

KINGSLEY COMAN: Came in for Sane after 74 minutes. Good preparation for Kimmich in stoppage time. No rating.

29/31

JAMAL MUSIALA: Came with Coman, replaced Gnabry, was much more active than him, but couldn’t prevent Gladbach from becoming more dominant from minute to minute. No rating.

30/31

ERIC MAXIM CHOUPO-MOTING: Came just before the end for Müller. Ineffective. No rating.

31/31

BOUNA SARR: Came for Stanisic, should make it 1-1. Still worked out a chance. No rating.

FC Bayern: Personnel problems on some levels

If there was a pre-season simulator as a computer game, FC Bayern’s preparation for 2021 could be used as a blueprint for the highest difficulty level 10/10 (“professional”). More complicated is actually not possible.

A new coach (the most expensive in human history) was available at the start of preparation in early July, but no team. Because a number of key players were on the extended EM vacation, Julian Nagelsmann had to temporarily fill the squad with up to ten in-house talents. At first he was unable to get to know many of his future regular players, or to familiarize them with his ideas.

But even since the EM drivers returned drop by drop at the end of July, the squad has been narrow, even narrower than last season. And even then, coach Hansi Flick was happy to be angry about exactly this fact. The departures David Alaba, Jerome Boateng and Javi Martinez are opposed to the additions Dayot Upamecano and Omar Richards. Returning to this was potential sales / rental candidates Michael Cuisance and Chris Richards.

The squad was further thinned out in the course of the preparation due to a considerable bad luck with injuries. Lucas Hernandez, Benjamin Pavard, Marc Roca and Corenin Tolisso were absent against Gladbach, Alphonso Davies had just returned from an injury.

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FC Bayern: The inevitable cold start against Gladbach

FC Bayern won none of the four test matches. With Manuel Neuer, Niklas Süle, Joshua Kimmich and Thomas Müller, four players from the starting XI of the Gladbach game did not complete a single minute of preparation. The DFB Cup game against Bremer SV was supposed to offer the opportunity to bring in a potential regular eleven, but that had to be postponed due to a corona case with the opponent.

The inevitable cold start against Gladbach followed. In the initial phase, FC Bayern played as confused as if the circumstances were almost feared, and found no means against courageous, enthusiastic and highly pressing Gladbachers. The logical consequence was the early deficit by Alassane Plea.

And then? In a miraculous way and without a single player really being outstanding, FC Bayern soon developed astonishing dominance and numerous scoring opportunities. As reliable as ever, Robert Lewandowski equalized shortly before the break. Before and after that, he also missed a chance for a winning second goal, which in the end would have been well deserved.

The team saved two controversial penalty scenes from a possible new deficit shortly before the end of the well-known and much-cited Bayern-Dusel, administered by referee Marco Fritz and the VAR. In spite of everything: everything as always.