Bayern Munich batters Chelsea, yet again: Three key takeaways
By Kartik Sahni
Alphonso Davies’s threat on the left flank for Bayern Munich
A winger, a wing-back, or a full-back, designating a position to Alphonso Davies is an unsolved riddle. For a basic understanding, Davies has grown as a “modern-day” left-back for Hansi Flick’s team. The Canadian was a mess for Chelsea’s backline in London and maintained his status at the Allianz Arena.
With Ivan Perisic, Thomas Muller, and Serge Gnabry continuously changing their positions, Davies overlapped the left flank and was a constant threat in the attacking phase. Davies launched five crosses during the second leg against the Blues. The speedy winger was also quick to trace back his lines and provide cover to David Alaba on defensive transitions.
The strategy to let Davies run on the loose against Reece James was an effective ploy. However, the untamed road runner will have to maintain a balance against their next opponents. The quarter-finals will bring Davies face to face with possibly the greatest player of the game. A stern test against Barcelona will be decided on how Bayern and Davies, in particular, tackle Lionel Messi on the left side of the pitch.
Next. Robert Lewandowski lights up European tie against Chelsea. dark
The Canadian dribbler was found pressing high up the pitch alongside Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller. Although it was a familiar sight after a failed attacking maneuver from the left, leaving Alaba isolated against Messi in the next round could be a problem for Flick. Pairing up Davies with Kinglsey Coman on the left side of the park offers a viable solution for Rekordmeister.
(Note: The statistics in this article were sourced from WhoScored.com)