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Four Takeaways as Bayern Munich defeat Mainz

By Joshua Bishop

01 February 2020, Rhineland-Palatinate, Mainz: Football: Bundesliga, FSV Mainz 05 - Bayern Munich, 20th matchday. Bavaria's Thiago (M) cheers with his teammates after his goal for the 0:3. Photo: Torsten Silz/dpa - IMPORTANT NOTE: In accordance with the regulations of the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga and the DFB Deutscher Fußball-Bund, it is prohibited to exploit or have exploited in the stadium and/or from the game taken photographs in the form of sequence images and/or video-like photo series. (Photo by Torsten Silz/picture alliance via Getty Images)
01 February 2020, Rhineland-Palatinate, Mainz: Football: Bundesliga, FSV Mainz 05 - Bayern Munich, 20th matchday. Bavaria's Thiago (M) cheers with his teammates after his goal for the 0:3. Photo: Torsten Silz/dpa - IMPORTANT NOTE: In accordance with the regulations of the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga and the DFB Deutscher Fußball-Bund, it is prohibited to exploit or have exploited in the stadium and/or from the game taken photographs in the form of sequence images and/or video-like photo series. (Photo by Torsten Silz/picture alliance via Getty Images) /
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MAINZ, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 01: Thiago Alcantara of Muenchen celebrates his team’s third goal during the Bundesliga match between 1. FSV Mainz 05 and FC Bayern Muenchen at Opel Arena on February 01, 2020, in Mainz, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images)
MAINZ, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 01: Thiago Alcantara of Muenchen celebrates his team’s third goal during the Bundesliga match between 1. FSV Mainz 05 and FC Bayern Muenchen at Opel Arena on February 01, 2020, in Mainz, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images) /

Thiago is back to his best

Over the last year and a half, Thiago’s form has been on the steady decline, with several reports in Germany suggesting that Bayern will look to sell him. It is one of the criticism’s under Niko Kovac’s tenure, that Thiago couldn’t perform as a defensive midfielder, or was just too careless and erratic in possession.

Several times in the past, the opposition has caught him in the possession and then scored a goal on the counter. Under Flick, people often wondered whether Thiago was going to be the odd man out since Kimmich, Goretzka, and Muller were getting the bulk of the minutes in the midfield.

Once the Ruckrunde started, Flick has figured out how to correctly use Thiago, and he has started all the three games. Flick’s confidence in Thiago has translated to great performances, and that was evident on Saturday.

The Spanish midfielder was everywhere against Mainz. He was the conductor of the offense and the destroyer of the defense, making tackles and completely controlling the match. This performance was capped off with a goal, where he dribbled through the defense and calmly slotted the ball in the bottom corner. This was his third goal in Ruckrunde in as many games.

Since the winter break, Thiago has been a man on a mission with renewed passion and energy that has dominated any opposition. His passing is quick, his decision making has been great, and his footwork is at an elite level. His performances after the winter break have been the difference between a good Bayern and a great Bayern. If he can maintain consistency in his performances, then Bayern has a real chance of running away with the league and being legitimate Champions League contenders.