FC Bayern Munich’s 2:3 draw at Borussia Mönchengladbach makes the Bundesliga exciting again. Despite the defeat, some of Munich earned quite decent grades. A German national player, on the other hand, disappointed. The winners and losers of the game as well as the grades and individual reviews of the FCB pros.
The early – and very controversial – red card against Dayot Upamecano and the associated substitution of captain Thomas Müller caused the most discussions in FC Bayern Munich’s 2-3 draw at feared opponents Borussia Mönchengladbach. A polyvalent defensive player earned the best grade in Munich, while another German international disappointed.
Winner: Jonas Hofmann (Borussia M’Gladbach)
Had a decisive part in all Gladbach goals: Hofmann prepared the 1-0 with his clever free kick, he scored the 2-1 himself. He prepared Thuram’s 3-1 again with a short pass. Very mature and effective performance of the national player. Grade: 2.
Loser: Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich)
Neither as a right winger nor in the center was he a factor in Bayern’s game. Also lost a lot of balls and duels and somehow let the game rush by. At the break he stayed out instead of Leroy Sané. Grade: 4.5.
Borussia Mönchengladbach – Bayern Munich: The line-ups
Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. FC Bayern Munich – 3:2 (1:1)
Sommer – Pavard, Upamecano, Blind – Kimmich, Goretzka (62nd de Ligt), Gnabry (46th Sané), T. Müller (16th Cancelo), Gravenberch (46th Musiala), Davies – Choupo-Moting (62nd Tel )
yellow cards
– : Goretzka (37.)
Red cards
– : Upamecano (10th)
FC Bayern Munich: goalkeeper
Yan Summers: On his return to his long-term place of work, he was received in a very friendly manner by fans, former teammates, ex-coaches and club bosses and even officially said goodbye. Was undamaged throughout the game and was powerless in all three goals conceded, but didn’t excel at great saves either. Grade: 3.5.
FC Bayern Munich: Defender
Benjamin Pavard: You have to do 99 ball actions as a central defender first – but it also shows how much pressure Bayern were under at times. The defeat was not due to Pavard. Grade: 3.5.
Dayot Upamecano: Saw red after less than eight minutes of the game because of an alleged emergency brake against Alassane Pléa. Referee Tobias Welz nevertheless stuck to his original, extremely harsh verdict. Without rating
Daley Blind: The winter signing showed an extremely inconspicuous performance in his starting eleven debut for the German record champions. Was in the somewhat unfamiliar central defensive position, which he had to take after Upamecano’s prominence in the back four that was then set up, primarily for safety. Nagelsmann switched back to a back three after the break, but Blind remained inconspicuous as the right link in this chain. grade: 4
FC Bayern Munich: midfielder
Serge Gnabry: Started as Alphonso Davies’ counterpart on the right rail but lost possession there frequently (eight times) during the first half and won only two of his eight tackles. Tried to go forward, but ineffective. Stayed in the dressing room during the break. Grade: 4.5.
Leon Goretzka: Quite committed and robust performance of the midfielder. Won almost all of his duels. Missed the 2-1 just before the break after a nice pass from Choupo-Moting. Generally too few impulses forward. grade: 4
Joshua Kimmich: Held three different positions over the course of the game: started as a central defender in front of a back three, then formed a double six with Leon Goretzka after Upamecano’s red card and after the break, after switching back to a back three with his own ball, moved into the central defensive position. Couldn’t prevent the 1:2 either, but otherwise showed a very appealing performance. Despite his very defensive position, played Bayern’s second most passes in the last third. Grade: 2.5.
Ryan Gravenberch: Committed performance in attacking midfield. Was initially allowed to stay on after Upamecano’s red card but had to make way for Jamal Musiala after the break. A tactical change that was not justified by his performance. Only his duel rate could be improved a bit (40 percent). Grade: 3.5.
Alphonso Davies: Touching the ball with his forearm led to Gladbach’s free-kick trick to make it 1-0 less than two minutes after Upamecano’s prominence. Then, after an irresistible running duel against Konrad Lainer, prepared the 1:1. Always under steam and Bavarian assets. Then cleverly prepared the 2:3 in the final phase. The defeat wasn’t his fault. Grade: 2.
Bayern Munich: attacker
Thomas Müller: Back in the starting XI after sitting on the bench against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. “We want to have a little more presence in the opposing sixteen with Choupo (Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, the ed.) and him,” explained coach Julian Nagelsmann before kick-off sky. After Upamecano’s early red, the coach sacrificed the captain – and not, for example, Ryan Gravenberch or Choupo-Moting. The veteran seems to be slipping further and further in the hierarchy. Without rating.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting: After being sent off, Nagelsmann relied on him instead of Müller in attack. It was worth it: hit the ice-cold ball to make it 1-1 (35′), was unlucky just before the break when Goretzka couldn’t use his wonderful pass to score the opener. Unobtrusive in the second half until he was substituted after just over an hour. Grade: 3.5.
FC Bayern Munich: Substitute
Joao Cancelo: After the red card, Nagelsmann switched to a back four in the eighth minute and brought on Cancelo for the extreme right link of the chain. 14 turnovers are workable, but three won dribbles (out of five) are decent for a defender. In general, a lot of drive forward, but without worrying about the great danger. grade: 4
Yamal Musiala: Came on for Gravenberch, should ensure creativity, but got stuck in the Gladbach defence. Grade: 4.5
Leroy Sane: Came for Gnabry. He may often be late for training, but he did a lot more right on the pitch than Gnabry, without being able to put a decisive stamp on the game. Grade: 3.5.
Mathy’s phone: Came on for Choupo-Moting after about an hour and gave Bayern hope with his goal in added time. Note 3.
Mathijs de Ligt: Came in for Leon Goretzka, should stabilize the defense after the 1:2. Only worked to a limited extent, four turnovers in 30 minutes. Couldn’t stop Marcus Thuram from 1:3. Grade: 4.5.
