Analysis: Bayern’s use of space fooled Freiburg

Bayern Freiburg analysis: use of space by FC Bayern allowed it to earn a comfortable victory against Freiburg, despite their superior running. Let’s take a closer look at how it happened.

According to the official Bundesliga stats, Freiburg ran at a pace of 7.5 kilometer per hour, against barely 7 for Bayern. But the Bavarians were much, much smarter in this game. This win was all about positioning and managing space.

Tactical points

Dante goal. Diego Contento carries the ball and the Freiburg players are crowding the area, perhaps to stop a cross. Contento spots Dante, who is getting clear. He uses the little space he has in front of him to take of the large amount that Dante benefits from.

First Shaqiri goal. Look at how Pizarro went wide, attracting players on the flank, while delivering a flying backheel to Shaqiri, who burst forward to get the ball. He would later go past a sliding defender and beat Baumann. Classy.

Second Shaqiri goal. This made me laugh. A Bayern player (presumably Pizarro) makes four players chase him, giving acres to Kroos and threads the needle. No. 39 would then set up Shaqiri in the area. Tor.

Also, look at how Shaqiri resists the temptation to go forward before shooting. He gives himself the angle to score.

Toni Kroos is under pressure but as the team did throughout the first half, he uses the long ball to Shaqiri on the left wing. He goes to create a chance.

Gone are the days of relaunching the attack with a 3-4-3. A more traditional buildup starts with central defenders back and one of the central midfielders available or carrying the ball forward. This forces more players to pull back defensively and, therefore, provides more passing options.

Not everything was perfect, though. 69th minute, Kroos loses the ball on the right and Bayern gets caught flat footed. They forget to cover one of the Freiburg attackers, who is set to receive a great pass for an excellent scoring chance. I was happy that the shot went wide.

Back to space. Pizarro showed how you should handle the ball if your opponent is very close. Take a step back. If he isn’t expecting the move, you have room for a shot.

Pizarro goal. Once again, this is about space.  Claudio Pizarro could have taken a shot on that play, but he realized that the keeper was in the right position. So he delayed that, dribbled to the right, finding the space he needed to deliver a shot that would surprise the keeper who was expecting it a moment before.

After sending Schweinsteiger and van Buyten in, Bayern worked patiently and defensively. A good shutdown strategy with generous coverage.

Statistical points

Pep’s handbook to manage a healthy midfield

With the improving fitness of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Javi Martinez, Bayern will soon be faced with the inevitable problem of having so many world-class midfielders that someone will have to ride the bench, unless Pep Guardiola decides that defenders and goalkeepers don’t fit into his plans. (If that’s the case, Manuel Neuer would make the perfect defensive midfielder.) But who will play, and how will Pep’s midfield shape up?

The formation

So far, Bayern has used a 4-1-4-1 formation with the occasional dalliance with a 4-2-3-1 depending on who is fit and what team they are playing. The main problem with predicting how Bayern’s midfield will shape up under Guardiola is that because of the injuries to key players like Schweinsteiger, Martinez, and for a time Thiago (who at the time was not a key player) it’s difficult to say exactly what Guardiola wants to do when he has everyone at his disposal.

Let’s assume that Guardiola will start most games with the 4-1-4-1 because of its flexibility on the pitch. The 4-1-4-1 has many drawbacks, but one thing it certainly brings to the table is that it can easily shift into a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 if it has to with just a simple shift of the players positions or a substitution if need be. The formation includes two wingers, two central midfielders, and a defensive anchor. While the single pivot does not provide as much protection as the double pivot under Heynckes, but with the right midfielders on the pitch it can provide a similar effect.

The players

Saying Bayern doesn’t have a shortage of midfielders is probably the Bundesliga understatement of the year. Franck Ribéry, Arjen Robben, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Müller, Toni Kroos, Javi Martinez, Xherdan Shaqiri, and recently Philipp Lahm of all players are all viable starters for the various midfield positions.

For the wings, Franck Ribéry and Arjen Robben are almost on lock-down to start barring injury. (Get well soon, Franck’s buttock.) Arjen Robben has also started consistently when fit, and it’s hard to argue with the Dutchman’s inclusion when he’s already notched seven and three assists already this season. Both Ribéry and Robben are highly technical players who can dribble, cross, create chances, and score, and contribute almost exactly what Guardiola looks for in a winger. We can be fairly certain that there won’t be a lot of important games that they miss.

The anchor

That leaves three central midfield positions, including the single pivot. The single pivot will act as a midfield anchor, and as far as players who can effectively play that position Guardiola is most likely to opt for Javi Martinez or Bastian Schweinsteiger. Despite the fact that Philipp Lahm has been fantastic in the defensive midfield role, his form hasn’t been worth holding out someone at either Schweinsteiger or Martinez’s level. It also doesn’t make sense to keep the best right-back in the world out of the right-back position, especially as Bayern moves forward in the Champions League.

The most likely candidate for the role is Javi Martinez, simply because he is of a similar mold of a player who played a similar role at Barcelona, Sergio Busquets. Both players provide a defensive cover and a hard tackling ability while being able to effectively connect the defensive to the attack. This isn’t to say Martinez is at the level of Busquets, but the similarity in their play is undeniable.

So where does this leave Schweinsteiger? To put it bluntly, leaving Schweinsteiger out of the starting lineup when fully fit should be punishable by public flogging. Schweinsteiger has the special ability to make a strong Bayern almost unbeatable. The best place for Schweinsteiger is in a central midfield position above the single pivot. This can give Schweinsteiger the freedom to move forward and join the attack or drop back and defend as necessary, shifting the formation from a 4-1-4-1 to a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 just by having him on the pitch.

That leaves on more central midfield position with players like Kroos, Thiago, Götze, and Müller all fighting for it, and it’s an incredibly difficult call. All players bring a different attribute to the table.

Toni Kroos brings sublime passing and an ability to control the game from either a central midfield or attacking midfielder position. Out of all the remaining midfielders, Kroos is the best passer and the best decision maker. He also provides a defensive aspect and superior tackling.

Mario Götze, the big summer signing (well, one of them at least) is a classic #10 with insane technical ability, fantastic passing technique, and recently good shooting. He’s probably the most well rounded attacker out of all the midfielders for this position and is far more likely to venture forward just behind the striker to create chances and score goals. Pretty goals, too.

Thiago Alcantara is a bit closer to Toni Kroos in the sense that he can drop back and play the central role and move up and play the attacking role as well. Thiago gives away the ball more than Toni Kroos does and may not make as many good decisions, but he’s also a better dribbler and when he’s on his game, he breaks records, like when he had 185 touches and 157 passes in the 5-0 drubbing of Frankfurt.

Thomas Müller is hard to explain, but suffice it to say that he adds that extra touch of chaos that Bayern sometimes need. His nickname “Raumdeuter” which means “interpreter of space” pretty much sums up his game. Nobody quite uses space like him, whether it’s creating a chance or scoring the most awkward hat tricks in the history of hat tricks. Regardless, Müller brings big game play that cannot be ignored.

So who gets the spot?

In my opinion, when everyone is fully fit the best option is Mario Götze, purely for tactical reasons. With Schweinsteiger and Martinez able to act as central midfielders, Bayern would be better off using Götze in that final spot if only for his ability to move behind the striker and create chances for Robben, Ribéry, or Mandzukic.

Götze also offers a bit more tactical flexibility should Guardiola decide to revert his midfield into a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1. If he goes with the former, Götze can play a similar role to Andres Iniesta, floating behind the striker when he wants to or tracking back a little deeper depending on the situation. If Guardiola goes with the latter, then Götze can drop back into the #1o spot right behind Mandzukic and create chances or score goals. With six goals and four assists in just eleven Bundesliga games and three goals and one assist in the Champions League, it’s hard to argue with the Bavarian wunderkind’s form either.

It’s all about form

At the moment, it’s still impossible to say who will take the final spot. For now, with Javi Martinez and Bastian Schweinsteiger not fully ready to start games, it’s not an issue. But once they are ready to start games the rest of the midfielders will have to fight for that last spot and form will dictate who gets it.

Thankfully for Bayern, many of these players possess the ability to play various positions. Mario Götze can play either wing and the center forward position, and Thomas Müller has proven effective on the right wing and can play center forward if needed. Their dynamic styles of play will be helpful in the pursuit of playing time.

At the end of the day, form will dicate who plays in the midfield for Die Roten.

Obit će se bahatost od glavu u srijedu

Niko u Bayernu ne doživljava ovu utakmicu bahato. To što se navijači zabavljuju, to je normalno. Pogledaj izjave trenera, igrača, čelnika...

ma dobro, pep bi i prije utakmice s ingolstadtom reka kako se pribojava jer da imaju dobru ekipu.

Ne vjerujem da Pep govori da respektira Arsenal čisto zato da ispadne politički korektan.
Prošle sezone su dokazali da su ekipa protiv koje moraš ići 100% (120% nogometnom matematikom) svih 180 minuta.

Opuštanja i podcjenjivanja neće biti sigurno.