Talking Tactics: Bayern Munich vs RB Leipzig

Rewind: Matchday 4 – Bayern’s First Half Dominance

The hosts started the game in an attacking 3-3-2-2 formation on paper. The Red Bulls used a 5-3-2 template to defend. The midfield trio of Marcel Sabitzer, Konrad Laimer, and Emil Forsberg, along with the two strikers upfront formed a compact pentagon in the center of the park to defend from an advanced position. The wing-backs joined the defense to shield Peter Gulacsi from all corners. Niko Kovac chose 4-3-3 for his side, which converted to a 2-3-2-3 or a 2-3-3-2 during the build-up phase.

Leipzig used a counter-defensive approach. Julian Nagelsmann deployed a man-oriented soft pressing technique. Timo Werner and Yussuf Poulsen narrowed in the central space to block the passing channels for Joshua Kimmich and Thiago Alcantara. The wide options in the midfield were responsible to cover the space on the flanks as soon as a pass was released by Bayern’s center-backs to a full-back. Therefore, Leipzig could deny Bayern a chance to create overloads on the flanks. It was a compact five-man structure in the middle. The wing-backs covered the threat from Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman in the wide areas. Leipzig had shut all possible options for Bayern to create chances.

Bayern tried numerous ways to stretch their opponent’s lines. Robert Lewandowski sporadically dropped in the hole to drag one of their defenders. On the other hand, Leipzig used a strict zonal approach. Nagelsmann’s tactic to assign a specific territory to each player during the defensive phase worked brilliantly for the initial moments.

More from Bayern Strikes

• Bayern Munich: Tactical takeaways from 2-2 draw against Bayer Leverkusen
• Bayern Munich: Kingsley Coman set to be fit for Manchester United clash
• Bayern Munich unlikely to move for Trevoh Chalobah in January
• Bayern Munich: Key lessons from draw against Bayer Leverkusen
• Bayern Munich remains keen on hiring Max Eberl

However, the tempo of the first half boiled down to Bayern’s greater share of possession. Leipzig’s defensive tactic had a major downside. The hosts gave Die Roten a lot of time on the ball. As per the PPDA metric, Leipzig allowed Bayern 17.18 passes adjusted for each of their defensive action performed in the visitor’s half. Bayern recorded 73% possession at the 40th-minute mark.

While the Red Bulls focused on covering space with synchronized movement, they could hardly create a chance for themselves. Their approach to counter from a defensive stance rarely allowed them a chance at goal. The hosts took only three shots from open play in the first half with an average xG of 0.047. On the other hand, the Rekordmeister took six shots from open play in the same time frame with an average xG of 0.155. (Stats courtesy: Understat.com)

Additionally, the Bavarians plotted an aggressive pressing maneuver after taking the lead. Leipzig used a 3-1-4-2 or a 3-5-2 to build-up. Kovac reverted with Lewandowski’s curved movement to press the central defender, and potentially, an alternative pass for one of the other two wide center-halves. Gnabry and Coman applied pressure from the wings. Bayern’s wingers positioned themselves in between the wide center-backs and the wing-backs.

Thomas Muller covered Laimer in the center. Kimmich and Thiago tagged themselves with Sabitzer and Forsberg. This forced Gulacsi to feed one of the wing-backs to build the attack. Bayern’s full-backs surged forward when the ball was played to Leipzig’s wing-back on their flank. It was an effective strategy to stop Leipzig from creating overloads in wide areas.