TACTICAL ANALYSIS Bayern 3-0 Leipzig

Strong Overload, Switch Play, and Individual Brilliance Won Bayern.

FC Bayern attempted to ruin RB Leipzig’s compactness with strong overload on the ball-side, supported by good spacing and quick interplay within their offensive ball-orientation as they continuously tried to exploit Leipzig’s underloaded side. Overall, the host constantly tried to create space on the flank trying to utilize the presence of Arjen Robben, on the right, as well as provided many opportunities for Douglas Costa to make penetrative movements through the touchline using his superiority in one-on-one situation. As usual, Robert Lewandowski and Thiago Alcantara played huge role in Bayern’s offensive-scheme

Bayern, the best home record hosted the match against the best away record. The 1st rank versus the 2nd place. One of the most waited clash of the 2016/2017 campaign.


The formation before the dismissal of Forsberg

The basic offensive orientation

Against a such highly-compact side, Carlo Ancelotti’s boys managed to display strong ball-orientation within their offensive movements. With the strong ball-orientation Bayern created many valuable overloads on the ball-near area which, in turn, opened-up space on the far side.

As we can see, after an overload and switch from the left side, Bayern tried to set Robben free through the combination of Robert Lewandowski and Philip Lahm. This strategy worked-well supported brilliantly by the amazing Thiago Alcântara. Bayern created many fast-vertical moves after switch, as Robben, Lahm, and Lewandowski alternately gained space on the wide around the half-space and flank of Leipzig’s penalty area.

Situationally, on the other attacking situation, as Bayern tried to penetrate through the ball-side, Lewandowski would drop even deeper than Robben because the Polish acted as the connector for Bayern progression from their deeper-area. Combined with deep-run by the captain, Bayern looked to plot Robben’s as the final-passer or any direct execution-action since the Dutch have been well-known to be good at cutting-inside to create the shooting-space.

Sound good. But, on the other side, the host looked to be getting difficult to create highly-valuable opportunities, at least before the first-goal, since the chances-creation actions were easily-managed by RBL’s 18-yard box defense. For example, Robben could display some cutting inside movements as he progressed with ball on his feet, but the nearer to the box the more difficult for him to penetrate diagonally directly into the box. Hassenhuttl’s troops managed to block the direct-access and in turn forced him to pass it out to the flank which ended-up with many easily-handled crosses.


For RBL, as usual, the orientation of attack is playing it directly to the last line relying on the aerial duel of Yussuf Poulsen. The Danish striker started his movement from the right-wide of Leipzig’s attacking direction from which he would move laterally to the center or near half-space to make some flick on to the upper-ground, to the front-three who occupied the opponent’s intermediate-defense to offer multiple options for immediate box attack.

Against such pattern, Bayern focused to stay compact to defend the central area supported by quick two-direction press, which were the backward-press by the six-pair and the onward-press by the back-liners. Despite Poulsen could still managed to win most of his aerial duels, the efficiency was quite low since Leipzig could only get single shot to the goal from such tactic. Bayern’s shape allowed them to keep the central area stayed secure which resulted some dispossesses, etc.


Bayern’s compactness around the center had managed to force the away side to move wide or made many turnovers in the center. Which also being the reason of the low expected-goal of the guest.

The constructive phase and structural adjustment

As the constructive-phase began from the back, Xabi Alonso and Arturo Vidal alternately dropped deep into the first-line provided strong connection in the deep-circulation. One of the six stayed slightly-higher to occupy the six-zone in front of the first-line. With Xabi and Vidal, along with the central defender duo, occupied the first two-lines in Bayern’s build-up, it was clear Ancelotti needed his players to make sure they had stabilized the deep-circulation before making any progression.

Vidal often found dropping deep and acted as a (left) half-back or center-half, helped team to progress the ball through the near half-space or flank corridor. By dropping deeper, the Chilean was also providing the needed cover in case Mats Hummels made a forward-movement – something that more often seen in the second-half, as Bayern lead the score line and one man up.

But, the key of Bayern’s progression from their first-phase was not only generated by the movement of Vidal/Xabi. Without structural adjustment and good spacing, it would be nearly impossible for Bayern to cleanly progress considering how good RBL are at executing their pressing system.


The overload on the near half-space and flank was the key. First, the full-backs stayed wide and kept the distance ideally-close to the first-line. By staying wide, occupied the same line (in horizontal stand-point) with Leipzig’s six, and ideally-close to the first-line of Bayern’s deep circulation, the full backs were maintaining the good attacking connection as well as kept RBL’s wide-10 to stay deeper.

“Deeper” means on the same horizontal line with RBL six-duo, since the wide-10 were engaged to the opponent’s full-backs. Because the wide-10 were forced deeper, the numbers of Leipzig’s pressing line was reduced from four to three lines. RBL used to press with a three banks of two + four (4-2-2-2), but the adjustment they made here had altered it to a two banks of four + two (4-2-2) formation.


A strong overload and quick shift by Thiago to switch to the far-side.


The individual-brilliance, pressure-resistance, and spacing

The first goal shows us how brilliant Bayern’s players were, both in defensive transition and at keeping possession. In a defensive transition, Thiago tracked back and regained possession as he dispossessed Diego Demme. With his on-ball skill, Thiago progressed, managed to beat Naby Keita, and found Alaba on the left touchline. In a very quick moves, Leipzig created a 6v4 numerical-advantage situation and trapped Bayern on the touchline.


Leipzig trapped Bayern on the touchline.


For full read, you're welcome to read it here
https://ryantank100.wordpress.com/2016/12/28/fc-bayern-vs-rb-leipzig/

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I hope so. I love their defensive style and how they develop the pressing access. With Kampl joins in, they should be a better side for this season.