Talking Tactics: Bayern Munich vs SC Paderborn

How should Bayern tackle Paderborn?

Die Roten can gain insight from Wolfsburg’s game against Paderborn. The Wolves who dropped two points against Paderborn were in full control of the game.

Wolfsburg used an attacking 3-4-3 formation and stretched out wide on the pitch. They used their width and efficient passing to disrupt Paderborn’s compact structure. This clever maneuver broke Paderborn’s defensive line, especially from the left flank that was exploited on numerous occasions.

Another clever strategy from the Wolves was to use Wout Weghorst as a false nine and providing a free-roaming role to Josip Brekalo. This clustered Paderborn’s half with Wolfsburg covering the majority of their zone. The Wolves rendered Paderborn’s aggressive pressing useless and used it in their own favor to move the ball rapidly. While Paderborn switched to a wider shape to defend the flanks, Weghorst’s tendency to move deeper forced a center-back to draw forward allowing Brekalo and Joao Victor to move between the lines that were left open.

Although I do not suggest Kovac to switch to a three-man defensive formation, keeping adequate width and compactness in the center and half spaces should do the job at the Benteler-Arena. I would like Bayern to opt for their usual 4-2-3-1 structure giving Philippe Coutinho the starting berth in the number ten position behind Robert Lewandowski.

With David Alaba still continuing with his recuperation, Benjamin Pavard, Niklas Sule, Jerome Boateng, and Lucas Hernandez can form the defensive line in front of Manuel Neuer. Joshua Kimmich should operate as the pivot with support from Corentin Tolisso sitting deep in the midfield. In attack, Kinglsey Coman and Serge Gnabry can provide the width.

"Neuer Pavard-Sule-Boateng-Hernandez Kimmich-Tolisso Coman-Coutinho-Gnabry Lewandowski"

I reckon Coutinho to be the main man who can decide how the game ends. Looking at Brekalo’s movement in the hole, Coutinho should be utilized in a similar fashion in the attacking third.

While I do not expect Lewandowski to play as a false nine, Bayern should opt for a 2-3-2-3 in attack with the full-backs tucking in with one of them ready to push forward should an opportunity arise. This will allow Bayern to create overloads in the final third and maintain a tight structure through the center.

As an example, I see the left flank behind Drager to be exploited more often than the right channel. This is how Bayern shall look on the map when providing overloads changing positions from a 2-3-2-3 set up.

"Neuer Sule         Boateng Pavard                     Kimmich       Tolisso                                    Coutinho                                          Gnabry              Hernandez          Coman                                Lewandowski"

An advantage for Bayern in such an attacking shape would be their compactness in the half-spaces and the center of the pitch. This would allow Bayern to press effectively when they are dispossessed in the opposition’s half and win the ball back from Paderborn while still camping in their half.

Should Bayern find themselves loose on a counter from Paderborn, Kimmich shall take the duties to fill Hernandez’s space on the left flank when Tolisso can move back in the number six position. Coutinho, Gnabry and Coman’s pace can do the rest of the work to track back and cover the pitch through the middle of the park. Hernandez, obviously, would be gushing back to perform his defensive duties.