FC Bayern Munich has advanced in the Bundesliga title fight and has temporarily increased its lead over pursuers Borussia Dortmund to four points. On the 31st match day of the Bundesliga, coach Thomas Tuchel’s team struggled to win 2-1 (0-0) at Werder Bremen.
- The goals for FC Bayern were scored by Serge Gnabry (62nd) and substitute Leroy Sané (72nd). Niklas Schmidt shortened in the 86th for Werder.
- FC Bayern had to start with very few substitutes: Tuchel had to do without seven players due to injury, and Leon Goretzka was also suspended. Nevertheless, as in the 2-0 win against Hertha BSC a week ago, the coach did without Thomas Müller in his starting eleven. Why? Here is Tuchel’s reasoning.
- Only one stands out from the mediocrity: the grades of the Bayern stars.
- Dortmund can follow suit in the title fight on Sunday with a win against VfL Wolfsburg (5:30 p.m.). “Now with a four-point lead, it’s up to them again to get close,” said goalscorer Gnabry: “Tomorrow against Wolfsburg will certainly not be an easy game. We’ve done our job, created a bit of cushion and next week against Schalke we want to win again. “
SV Werder Bremen – FC Bayern Munich: The analysis
Tuchel was forced to change his starting eleven in one position compared to the win against Hertha: Ryan Gravenberch replaced the suspended Leon Goretzka in defensive midfield. When the opponents had possession, the young Dutchman formed up alongside Joshua Kimmich, when he had his own he usually moved up to the level of Jamal Musiala. Tactically, a 4-3-3 system then emerged. In the build-up, the two full-backs Joao Cancelo and Noussair Mazraoui regularly pushed into the middle.
FC Bayern dominated the game with a lot of possession from the start, but lacked creativity and didn’t create any compelling chances to score. Werder closed the center in the 3-5-2 system, which is why Bayern switched to the wings a lot – especially to Kingsley Coman’s right side. However, this concept with many crosses did not lead to success because there was usually a target player missing in the center. The nominal center forward Serge Gnabry did not hold his position consistently and was generally hardly involved.
Between a number of weak corners, FC Bayern had the only dangerous goal chance of the first half thanks to a half-field free-kick from Joshua Kimmich. Werder keeper Jiri Pavlenka parried Benjamin’s Pavard header well (20′). After half an hour, Werder – without the battered striker Niclas Füllkrug – became a little braver and came up with a few goal approaches.
After the change of sides, FC Bayern’s determination in the game did not improve, Gnabry’s lead was not necessarily indicated. Shortly thereafter, Tuchel brought in Thomas Müller and Leroy Sané for Ryan Gravenberch and Coman. Werder did not rebel as a result, instead Joker Sané increased to 2-0. Interesting: The goal was preceded by a combination of the two full-backs Cancelo and Mazraoui in midfield.
Niklas Schmidt’s goal from afar made things exciting again, but it came too late. Shortly after, Bouna Sarr made his competitive debut of the season, coming on for Mané.
Werder Bremen – Bayern Munich: The voices
Ole Werner (Werder Bremen coach): “We don’t have to walk around with our heads down now. We were visible as a team. To take a point we should have been more effective in our good situations. Some of you can tell a little bit that the season has been long and tiring.”
Thomas Tuchel (Bayern Munich coach): “We’re on the right track, the team also feels that there’s more stability again. At the moment it’s all about trust and encouragement. There’s a bit of a lack of penetrating power at the moment. We have to get it over the finish line.”
Werder Bremen – Bayern Munich: The line-ups
Bremen: Pavlenka – Pieper (55th Veljkovic), Stark, Friedl – Groß (77th Gruev) – Weiser, Jung (77th Buchanan) – Bittencourt (82nd Schmidt), Stage – Schmid, Ducksch (77th Philipp).
FC Bayern: Summer – Mazraoui, Pavard, de Ligt, Joao Cancelo – Gravenberch (Thomas Muller 64), Kimmich – Coman (Leroy Sane 64), Musiala, Mane (Sarr 88) – Gnabry.
SV Werder Bremen – FC Bayern Munich: The data for the game
Gates: 0: 1 Gnabry (62′), 0: 2 Sané (72′), 1: 2 Schmidt (86′)
The star of the game: Matthijs de Ligt (FC Bayern Munich)
Another very confident performance by the Munich defense chief. Robustness, body language, dynamism: Matthijs de Ligt stands out from a mediocre team with these qualities alone.
The flop of the match: Marvin Ducksch (Werder Bremen)
The big stage, the top game, the best possible opponent and four goals in the last two games: the perfect opportunity for Marvin Ducksch to draw even more attention to himself. But Benjamin Pavard and de Ligt signed Werder’s center forward completely. Marvin Ducksch didn’t emit a goal threat and had to go down in the 77th minute.
The referee: Christian Dingert
Christian Dingert had no problems with the fair game.
