FC Bayern went into the last group game as a clear favorite. But a disappointing first half initiated the defeat. This shows a bigger problem.
Vincent Kompany didn’t talk around the hot porridge. “Our first half was simply not good,” commented FC Bayern’s coach, the 0-1 of his team against Benfica at the club World Cup. Thomas Müller joined the wording: “The first half was not good.” FC Bayern had a lot of possession against the Portuguese, but the yield was manageable. The “Expected Goals” value-the goal probability based on the quality of the chances-was only 0.5, on the scoreboard 0: 1. In the second half it got better, Bavaria became more active, grippy and dangerous. And the “Expected Goals” value rose to 1.74.
Sat1 expert Fredi Bobic also saw a “completely different appearance” of Bayern in the second half. “We now have all the time what we only had in the first half in the first half,” analyzed the former Bundesliga manager in the 64th minute. The difference between the two halves was not only in a different attitude and in another occurrence, but also in different staff.
Coach Vincent Kompany had changed his team in seven positions before the game and put regular players like Joshua Kimmich, Harry Kane and Michael Olise. With regard to the second tournament phase that started, the Belgian wanted to avoid “the players are all dead because they played here in the heat for 90 minutes”.
An understandable decision, which, however, brought with it: In width, FC Bayern apparently does not have the necessary quality to catch up with the lack of the top players. The absence of Jamal Musiala, Michael Olise or Harry Kane was felt. Little dribbling, a missing target player in the opposing penalty area: the game of Bayern was lacking in many corners and ends.
Germany and Bayern – Both teams are apparently faced with the same challenge: the squad is strong at the top, but in width it is not sufficient for the ambitious goals.
It is not just a position, but more. Especially in the storm center, FC Bayern was noticed against Benfica on Tuesday. Because when Harry Kane was sitting on the bench, Thomas Müller had to try the forefront – not exactly his strength. Sat.1 expert Fredi Bobic also noticed during the game: “I am excited to see if Bayern will bring a second striker to Kane.”
Already in the past Bundesliga season, the difference between the games with and without Kane was noticeable. In the two defeats against Mainz (1: 2) and Bochum (2: 3), Kane was either completely (Mainz) or only came into the game as a joker (Bochum). With him in the starting eleven, FC Bayern remained unbeaten in the Bundesliga.