Bayern Munich: Takeaways from home CL win against Lokomotiv Moscow

Takeaways for Bayern Munich from a comfortable win against Lokomotiv Moscow.

A memorable year in the Champions League for Bayern Munich came to an end on Wednesday. The defending champions ended the year on a strong note by beating Lokomotiv Moscow at Allianz Arena in the final group game of the season.

Die Roten had clinched a place in the round of 16 way back in matchday four of the Champions League. The last two group games were an opportunity for Hansi Flick to give game time to players that have been on the fringes and those who have just made a return from injury.

This Bayern squad under Flick has shown hunger even in games where results don’t have much significance. They dominated Lokomotiv Moscow throughout 90 minutes to remain unbeaten in CL since the start of the last campaign. Here are some important takeaways from Die Roten’s dominant performance at Allianz Arena on Wednesday.

Alphonso Davies is back

After six weeks of rehabilitation for the injury he suffered against Eintracht Frankfurt, Alphonso Davies was back on the pitch against Lokomotiv Moscow. The Canadian winger showed no signs of rustiness as he dominated the left flank during his stay on the pitch.

Davies was industrious in the final third as he completed 11 dribbles in the game. He also played one key pass and remained solid while defending. Lucas Hernandez has been playing consistently in the left-back position this season, but the return of Davies will allow Flick to give both players ample amount of playing time without burning them out. It was a welcome sight to see Davies once again back on the pitch. (Stats courtesy: Whoscored)

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Niklas Sule gets a much-needed good performance under his belt

Since the international break in November, there has been a lot of speculation surrounding Niklas Sule. There were reports in Germany suggesting that Sule has not been in peak physical condition, forcing Flick to keep him out of the squad.

The German defender was imperious on Wednesday night. He was solid defensively and opened the scoring for the hosts. Sule’s contract is set to expire in 2022. The German defender is an important player for Die Roten. Most importantly, the best years of his career are ahead of him. The performance on Wednesday will give the player more confidence to go on a good run of form.

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting continues to do well in a rotational role

Robert Lewandowski was rested on Wednesday, so it was yet another opportunity for Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. The Cameroonian striker has been delivering decent performances for Bayern, but he had no goals to show it in the last few games. However, Wednesday was completely different as he scored the second goal of the game to put the match to the bed.

Choupo-Moting getting goals in limited opportunities bodes well for the squad. He is going to get enough playing time throughout the campaign. He works hard for the team and provides unique qualities in the final third, allowing Die Roten to have variety in the attack. If he continues to perform well, then Flick might even use him in a two with Robert Lewandowski.