Talking Tactics: Bayern Munich vs SC Paderborn 07

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PADERBORN, GERMANY – SEPTEMBER 28: Serge Gnabry of FC Bayern Muenchen celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the Bundesliga match between SC Paderborn 07 and FC Bayern Muenchen at Benteler Arena on September 28, 2019 in Paderborn, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /

Rewind: Matchday 6 – Bayern exploit passing lanes

Bayern Munich controlled the first half of the game. The Bavarians oozed class. Niko Kovac’s side kept 60% possession in the first 45 minutes. They also took ten shots compared to Paderborn’s three in the same time frame. The dominance in the center and half spaces was a major reason behind this performance. Paderborn favoured a 4-2-3-1 formation to defend from an advanced position. Steffen Baumgart utilized Sven Michel as the lone striker to press from the front.

The other five midfield options used a man-oriented press reflecting intense pressing maneuvers near the half-line. Therefore, Bayern used their center-backs to build from the back. Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez pushed high on the wings. The French duo flanked Thiago Alcantara and Joshua Kimmich during the build-up phase.

Progressing the ball was a simple task for Bayern. They used either of a pivot or a full-back as a link-up option to progress the ball. Bayern used quick one-touch passing to successfully move the ball via gaps. Even Paderborn’s attempt to pile pressure near the flank was wasteful. The reason was Kimmich and Thiago’s positioning. They positioned themselves in the gaps in Paderborn’s attacking midfield line. It effectively allowed Bayern to play through Paderborn’s pressing. Thus, there was always a free man available for Bayern in their half. One can imagine small triangular passing networks that allowed a smooth passage of the ball.

Philippe Coutinho was another important character in this match. The Brazilian thrived in the number ten role. Coutinho could exploit the space offered by the distance between Paderborn’s defensive midfielders and the back-four. The proximity between Paderborn’s midfield structure of two pivots and three attacking players was a boon for Bayern. Thereby, Coutinho had the room to collect the ball past the half-line, move freely, and supply it to the forwards. Bayern’s loan-signing clocked 66 touches and won five dribbles out of six. (Stats courtesy: WhoScored.com)

Essentially, Bayern found clean passing channels on numerous occasions. The combination of Rekordmeister’s successful build-up process along with the positioning of their midfielders deserve full credit here. Consequently, two of Bayern’s goals stemmed from this tactical combination.