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Kane Brace secures Champions League Qualification for Bayern Munich Amid tactical Concerns
Table of Contents
Bayern Munich secured thier place in the Champions league last 16,bypassing the play-off round,thanks to a hard-fought victory over Union Saint-Gilloise. A brace from Harry Kane, including a penalty, proved decisive, but the match sparked debate over tactical decisions and player preferences within the Bavarian squad.
Despite expectations of a dominant performance, union Saint-Gilloise adopted a strategy reminiscent of both RB Leipzig – with relentless pressure – and Borussia Mönchengladbach – employing a disciplined, counter-attacking approach. This forced Bayern to work for the win, a testament to the Belgian side’s resilience.
Lineup Confusion and Kimmich’s Position
Pre-match speculation suggested a midfield pairing of Aleksandar Pavlović and Tom Bischof,with Raphaël Guerreiro and Joshua Kimmich occupying the fullback positions. However, the actual lineup saw Guerreiro on the right, Bischof on the left, and Pavlović and Kimmich in the center of the pitch. This unexpected arrangement drew criticism.
“There aren’t many fit senior players who can play right-back save for Guerreiro but even then he’s not that good a defender,” one observer noted. The situation highlights the concessions the team is making to accommodate Kimmich’s desire to play in midfield. A source close to the team suggested that if Kimmich has explicitly ruled out playing at right-back,”then shame on him,” recalling his previous willingness to play anywhere on the pitch.
The insistence on playing Kimmich in his preferred position, even at the expense of potentially developing younger players like Bischof, raises questions about priorities. The compatibility of Pavlović and Bischof remains an open discussion.
Kompany’s setup and Olise’s Impact
The ease with which Union SG penetrated Bayern’s defense also prompted scrutiny of Vincent Kompany’s tactical setup.”The way that Bayern was letting Union SG through that easily means something wasn’t right,” a commentator stated.
However, the match also showcased the brilliance of Michael Olise. The Frenchman assisted both of Kane’s goals, including a pass that drew a penalty. This performance follows a standout showing against Leipzig, where he registered a hat-trick of assists and a goal. “Olise is simply an insane player. Indispensable, to say the least,” one analyst remarked.
Olise, alongside Luis Díaz, has demonstrated a commitment to defensive duties, adding another dimension to their attacking prowess.Díaz is well-known for his tracking back,and Olise is now mirroring that work rate.
Refereeing Concerns Persist
The match was also marred by controversial refereeing decisions.”The ref in this match was Horrible with a capital H,” a frustrated fan commented. This is becoming a recurring issue for Bayern,with concerns over the quality of officiating.
The referee’s performance was likened to the one against paris Saint-Germain, characterized by “a boatload of questionable calls” and a questionable red card.Regardless of the final result, or even favorable calls like a penalty, the performance of the referee must be addressed when necessary.
For further analysis of Bayern Munich and the German national team,listeners can find the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works on Acast,Spotify,Apple,or any leading podcast distributor.
