Talking Tactics: Ruthless Bayern Munich meet resolute Lyon

Can Bayern Munich tame the Lion?

Six players in Bayern’s outfit put the ball past Marc-Andre Ter Stegen eight times in the quarter-finals. It was a cold-blooded performance from Die Roten, not much on paper, though. Barcelona and Bayern shared an equal amount of time on the ball. The Catalans attempted more passes than Bayern. The game was decided on speed and aggressiveness. Die Roten scored full marks on both the metrics.

Hansi Flick is expected to keep the flame burning for their next clash against Lyon. No surprises are expected from Bayern’s formation. 4-2-3-1, as it has been, shall be fielded for the semis. Flick might have Benjamin Pavard available for this game. The versatile French defender was back in training on Monday.

Thiago could be sacrificed if Pavard starts, allowing Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka to form a pair in the center of midfield. Flick can look to start Kinglsey Coman. His speed and instinctive abilities as a winger can never be more of an asset to beat Rudi Garcia’s 3-5-2.

The 3-5-2 will majorly be used as a 5-3-2 by Garcia. Bayern are expected to dominate possession. Les Gones will target locking Bayern’s pivots in the center of the park to obstruct ball progression. Flick’s men will enjoy their time at the back to move the ball horizontally. Karl Toko Ekambi, who will likely start ahead of Moussa Dembele, will be responsible for covering Bayern’s central midfielder when out of possession. Memphis Depay and Houssem Aouar shall aim to press the wide options in the half-spaces.

The solution for Bayern’s ball progression lies in their midfield fluidity. A key factor that was surprisingly missing from Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the quarter-finals. Maxence Caqueret and Aouar can be dragged wide by either of Thomas Muller or Serge Gnabry and Gortezka to open a passing channel for Robert Lewandowski.

Remember how one of Bayern’s pivots drops deep in the left half-space during build-up? Alphonso Davies will be given the room to make beeping runs past Leo Dubois. This is where Jason Denayer takes the spotlight. Lyon’s number five has been the target for creating space at the back in their recent matches. Flick can probably install an inverted winger system. Serge Gnabry’s dropping movement will open space time and again behind Denayer. Lewandowski and Davies can complete the job from that space.

In possession, Lyon’s build-up from the back is likely to take a toll. Bayern will continue with their celebrated high-line and aggressive pressing. Anthony Lopes, who hardly goes for a long pass, will have to change his strategy. The Portuguese shot-stopper has launched an average of 30% of the balls from the back. That is the third-lowest number observed in Ligue 1 this season. However, this metric was registered at 82% against Manchester City. When playing against Maurizio Sarri’s Juventus, Lopes launched 69% of his passes. Ekambi, who provides the height in attack and Maxwel Cornet from the left-hand side, emerge as the top two targets to feed a long-ball.

What about the hype around Aouar and Depay?

They will alternatively be the target for passes in the central region. A successful progression past Bayern’s first wave of pressure will feature line-breaking passes being made from Denayer and Fernando Marcal. Aouar and Depay can be found on the receiving end to create link-ups in the attack. Sparks will fly in the midfield tussle between Aouar, Goretzka, Depay, and Kimmich.

In the final third, Lyon will Ekambi’s speed as the wild card after a successful ball-progression past the halfway line. That is how direct and quick Rudi Garcia’s attacking theme is. Aouar and Depay shall waste no time to divert the ball in the feet of a wing-back or lay a through-ball in Ekambi’s path. Jerome Boateng will be earmarked by Ekambi to make arced runs in behind the veteran German center-back. Bayern Munich are expected to take no prisoners. Hansi Flick stands in pole position to reach the final step of making Bayern Europe’s best, once again.

Expected Lineups:

"Neuer Pavard-Boateng-Alaba-Davies Kimmich-Gortezka Coman-Muller-Gnabry Lewandowski —————————————————————————– Depay-Ekambi Cornet-Aouar-Guimaraes-Caqueret-Dubois Marcal-Marcelo-Denayer Lopes"

Score Prediction: Lyon 0 – 3 Bayern