To answer this question, I decided to focus on three of the best teams from the 2020-2021 season: Manchester City, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich. Last time, I covered Chelsea, today we’ll look at Bayern. For each team, I’ll get into how they normally set up (which clusters do their players come from), why they work so well as a team (as well as some instances where they didn’t) and include some helpful visual aids along the way. Finally, I’ll summarise what I see to be the major trends regarding how the clusters work with each other.
Bayern Munich
I focused on three of Bayern’s games vs tougher opponents last season in my analysis. The matchday 24 vs Borussia Dortmund, the first leg vs Lazio, and the first leg vs PSG. Let’s start with the matchup against Dortmund.
Bayern Munich vs. Borussia Dortmund: Matchday 24
Setup:
Neuer: Cluster 4
Boateng: Cluster 14
Alaba: Cluster 13
Davies: Cluster 6
Sule: Cluster 14
Kimmich: Cluster 12
Goretzka: Cluster 11
Coman: Cluster 3
Muller: Cluster 3
Sane: Cluster 3
Lewandowski: Cluster 8
Analysis:
Bayern lined up for this game as they would normally with the exception of Sule slotting in for Pavard (cluster 17) who was injured. Flick’s side gave up 2 early goals with the first one being a great strike by Haaland. On the second goal, Dortmund looked to bypass Bayern’s press with the long ball and succeeded in doing so, taking advantage of the numbers Bayern had committed forward and scoring an easy tap in. This highlighted Bayern’s major vulnerability as a team. They are fantastic in attack but are definitely susceptible to the counter at times. Speaking of attack, Bayern looked to attack mainly through their wingers in this one.
Both Coman and Sane looked to stay as wide as possible and Bayern looked to find them in space for 1v1 opportunities where they would look for either a shot or cross. Bayern’s center backs played a large responsibility (along with the midfield) in getting it to the wingers with cross-field/long switches looking to catch Dortmund by surprise.
The progressive pass map above really illustrates the strategy to get the ball to the wingers (clusters 2 and 3) and what the wingers would try to do once they got the ball (clusters 1 and 5). The first 2 goals were manufactured using this exact strategy. On the first goal, Coman recycled it back to Kimmich who quickly switched the ball to Sane, finding him in a 1v1 situation. Sane took advantage and beat his man before shooting it backpost where Lewandowski was conveniently located for the easy tap in. It was key that Kimmich get the ball to Sane as quickly as possible so that Dortmund could not shift over in time to prevent any 1v1 opportunities. The second goal was very similar with Boateng hitting a pinpoint crossfield switch to Coman who then took his man on, beat him, and drew a penalty. Of course, Lewandowski buried it.
The third goal was a bit different but demonstrated another key principle in Bayern’s tactics which is their fluidness/interchangeability. To start, Kimmich and Goretzka line up as a double pivot, and each spend time in a traditional holding role. However, this is a very dynamic partnership and Goretzka often pushes into more advanced positions where he poses a real goal threat. This goes to show how dangerous a cluster 12-cluster 11 (engine-creative mid, something we talked briefly about in the Manchester City analysis) double pivot can be, with the creative mid pushing higher up into the attack while the engine pulls the strings in possession. Many times, Muller will drift out into wider positions opening space for Goretzka to occupy. The third goal was a good example of this with Muller drifting out to the right where he whipped a cross into the box. The ball eventually found its way to Goretzka, who was waiting at the top of the box, and he volleyed it into the back of the net.
The final goal illustrated yet another wrinkle in fluidity, this time with Lewandowski checking back to receive the ball and passing it to Davies (attack-minded LB) who sprung forward to start the counter attack. Sane occupied the space that Lewandowski had created and beautifully dummied the ball to Lewandowski to complete his hattrick and Bayern’s comeback win.
Bayern Munich vs. Lazio: Champions League 1st Leg (R16)
Setup:
Neuer: Cluster 4
Boateng: Cluster 14
Alaba: Cluster 13
Davies: Cluster 6
Sule: Cluster 14
Kimmich: Cluster 12
Goretzka: Cluster 11
Coman: Cluster 3
Musiala: Cluster 3
Sane: Cluster 3
Lewandowski: Cluster 8
Analysis:
With Muller out for this one, Flick put his trust in Jamal Musiala. The youngster didn’t disappoint making his mark felt on the game and bagging an important goal in the process. The goal demonstrated his positional awareness and how well both he and Lewandowski interchanged throughout the game.
On that Musiala goal, he first checked in to the midfield and played it first time to Kimmich. The ball was switched to Davies who took on and beat his man before playing it to Goretzka. At this moment, Lewandowski made a very intelligent run from the top of the box to the left side of the box. This movement dragged a central defender and opened up yards of space for Musiala who upon receiving it from Goretzka hit it into the back of the net.
The next two goals (timestamps 4:24 and 6:10) both came for Bayern on the break where both Coman and Sane were able to show off their incredible 1v1 ability. On the third goal, Coman pounced on a Lazio defender’s mistake and immediately burst forward with acres of space ahead of him on the break. He entered the box, made quick work of the defender, and slapped it towards goal. The goalkeeper saved it, but Sane was left with the easy tap-in. On the last goal, Bayern won the ball back with Lazio committing massive numbers forward. Coman played a great ball to Sane on the break and the German embarrassed the man tasked with stopping him before crossing it into a poor Lazio defender who put it into his own net.
The first goal was nowhere near as exhilarating as the following three, with Bayern mostly capitalizing on Lazio’s nerves to start the game. They counter pressed and Lewandowski quickly pounced on a stray pass leading to an easy goal. All in all, it was a comfortable win against a disappointing Lazio side.
Bayern Munich vs. Lazio: UCL Quarterfinal 1st Leg
Setup:
Neuer: Cluster 4
Sule: Cluster 14
Alaba: Cluster 13
Pavard: Cluster 17
Hernandez: Cluster 6
Kimmich: Cluster 12
Goretzka: Cluster 11
Coman: Cluster 3
Muller: Cluster 3
Sane: Cluster 3
Choupo-Moting: Cluster 8
Analysis:
Although Bayern lost this one, they had no problem generating quality chances and arguably should’ve beat the Parisians (3.1-1.5 expected goals scoreline according to fbref). They played with a very similar game plan to the other games looking to switch the ball and isolate the wingers as much as possible, get numbers forward and into the box, and cross the ball.
Their goals both came in this fashion, two crosses from the right halfspace (one from a set-piece) that were headed into the back of the net. However, Bayern’s defensive warts popped up on numerous occasions once again. Like usual, they would commit heavy numbers forward leaving them vulnerable to the break which Mbappe capitalized on twice.
Conclusion
Bayern are what a perfect team looks like on attack. They are beautifully balanced, playing with 3 creators, a prolific goal scorer/outlet, and an engine. Simply put, they are impossible to stop from scoring. They commit tons of numbers forward and into the box and the pure volume of quality crosses they put in is overwhelming to say the least. However, this purely attacking mindset means they are extremely vulnerable in defense and they are often caught on the break. The team is reminiscent of Manchester City a couple years ago. Pep has adjusted by playing a little more conservatively (one example being the fact that his fullbacks don’t push as far up), a tweak that have made City one of the best teams defensively as well. For Bayern, this could be the next step. Or maybe they will continue trying to simply outscore their opponents, an approach I could never blame them for sticking with. Because when Bayern Munich attacks, they are as entertaining as it gets.