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After a tumultuous week that saw Thomas Tuchel announce his parting ways with the club in the summer, Bayern Munich took a page out of Bayer Leverkusen’s book and scored an improbable stoppage-time goal to take three points at home against RB Leipzig . The 2-1 result keeps Bayern alive in the race for the Bundesliga title for at least another week.
How will Sané regain his rhythm?
When Bayern played against Leipzig in the Hinrunde, Leroy Sané was playing the best football of his career. He scored eight goals in the first 11 games of the season, but has only scored three times since September.
The current version of Sané constantly paralyzed attacking situations. In the first half, Jamal Musiala played a perfectly weighted pass to Sané, only for Sané to dribble the ball away from Leipzig goalkeeper Janis Blaswich instead of burying the 1v1 opportunity.
With the Bundesliga title only mathematically within reach, Thomas Tuchel should offer Mathys Tel some well-deserved playing time and let Sané sort it out from the bench.
XXL Magic Musiala
Jamal Musiala is not a pure winger. He is not a pure central midfielder. It is a hybrid that dazzles in half-spaces. He destroyed Leipzig’s defense on quite a few occasions and only failed when he was on a double or triple counterattack.
When Alphonso Davies returns from injury and can integrate some overlapping runs, Musiala will find even more space in the final third. This is clearly the way forward for Bayern’s attack and should not be altered.
Kimmich wins the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor
Dayot Upamecano (red card), Sacha Boey (injury) and Noussair Mazraoui (injury) were unavailable today. Although it could have been a punishment, Tuchel decided to push Joshua Kimmich to the right back and that paid immediate dividends. Kimmich is not a speedy winger, but he channeled his inner Philipp Lahm and was positionally good on and off the ball.
Kimmich almost seems relieved to have less responsibility and play with more joy and freedom. Despite that nagging shoulder injury, Kimmich moved with a refreshing vigor in his step.
“I just try everything I can think of” – Citizen Kane
Harry Kane scored a miraculous left-footed volley in injury time to claim victory. He only had 30 touches (compared to Manuel Neuer’s 46), but he took advantage of his opportunities. Bayern’s build-up seems to connect better when Kane or Thomas Müller enter the midfield and redirect the play to the sides. Kane even attempted a bicycle kick that probably would have found the back of the net with better contact.
Tuchel in a hot can Ceiling Box
In the first match since his official decision to leave the club this summer, Tuchel opted to watch the first half from the most uncomfortable seat in the entire stadium. A metal box. He spent the second half sitting with the rest of the coaches, but left the box in the coaches’ area.
The Bayern Munich players have just shown that it is better to win with an inanimate object as team manager. Maybe next week the team mascot, Berni Bear, will fill in as assistant.