Bayern Munich will have better balance in defense from next season

The last couple of seasons have seen Bayern Munich often struggle in breaking down teams that have a resilient defense. The job of opposition teams has been made easy by Die Roten by having an unbalanced way to create chances.

Bayern had become a lopsided side when it came to going forward. There was a lot of emphasis on the left-back joining the attack, while Benjamin Pavard was used in a much more conservative role on the right side. Alphonso Davies terrorized the opposition from the left-back position, but Pavard couldn’t provide a similar edge in the final third from the right. The French international was good at defending, but he was not able to provide the width. Things could change drastically for Bayern on the right side with the arrival of Noussair Mazraoui.

The Moroccan full-back completed a move to Bavaria on Tuesday. Mazraoui has signed a contract until 2026. Die Roten managed to beat a lot of European clubs, including FC Barcelona, for the signing of Mazraoui on a free transfer.

As things stand, Mazraoui is likely to become the first choice right-back for Julian Nagelsmann for next season. The 24-year-old full-back can provide the impetus on the right side of the pitch just like Alphonso Davies does on the left.

Noussair Mazraoui managed to score five goals and assist two goals in Eredivisie this season. The output may not be eye-catching, but Mazraoui’s underlying numbers for the campaign are impressive. He has averaged 1.23 shots per 90 this season, which is 92 percentile for full-backs in Europe. In terms of expected assist, Mazraoui has averaged 0.15 per 90, which is 84 percentile across all leagues in Europe.

Mazraoui also has very good numbers in terms of progressing the ball from defense to attack (7.81 progressive passes per 90). He will be able to help in improving Bayern while playing out from the character. The Moroccan full-back is more than a competent defender, making him the ideal right-back to have in the squad. (Stats courtesy: fbref)

Nagelsmann will be hoping that Noussair Mazraoui will adapt to the Bundesliga and hit the ground running next season. With Benjamin Pavard likely to replace Niklas Sule in the heart of the defense, it is crucial for Mazraoui to make a quick impact in the starting lineup.

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Meanwhile, Bayern has also agreed to a fee with Ajax for Ryan Gravenberch. The Dutch midfielder will be teaming up with Mazraoui after enjoying success at Ajax. Gravenberch will add more quality to the midfield that has often lacked dynamism last season. The Bavarian club is also expected to make additions to the attack in the next few months.