Initial Reactions and Observations
Vincent Kompany truly delivered a tactical masterclass here. While Bayern Munich's victory over Tottenham Hotspur might appear narrow, the actual performance on the pitch showcased a significant disparity in quality between the two teams. This is precisely how it should be.
The return of gegenpressing was evident! Kompany wasn't exaggerating when he emphasized the importance of defending aggressively. Spurs struggled immensely to navigate through Bayern's first-half setup, often losing possession and falling prey to Bayern's counterattacks. The intensity was reminiscent of the high-energy pressing football during the Flick era, though it wasn't sustained throughout the entire game.
Serge Gnabry's performance was a standout. It's been a while since we've seen him play with such vigor, proving that Spurs is still very much a London team.
Bayern's fullbacks, Boey and Guerreiro, adopted a more traditional wide role rather than dropping into midfield to assist in possession. This conservative approach was a noticeable shift in Bayern's tactics.
Despite the close scoreline, Bayern's dominance was overwhelming. This game was a stark contrast to their match against Düren. More performances like this in the future, please.
Full time: Bayern Munich 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
- 65’ — Goal. Pedro Porro makes it 2-1 from outside the box.
- 56’ — GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL! Goretzka makes it 2-0!
- 45’ — The second half is underway! Here are the subs:
Halftime: Bayern Munich 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur
- 5’ — GOOOOOOOOOOOAL! Vidović makes it 1-0 early!
Kickoff: We’re underway in Seoul!
One hour until kickoff: The lineups are in! Vincent Kompany has opted for a standard 4-2-3-1 formation with Mathys Tel and Thomas Müller leading the attack for Bayern Munich. Serge Gnabry and Gabriel Vidović are on the wings, Aleksander Pavlović and Joshua Kimmich anchor the midfield, and the back line features Sacha Boey, Josip Stanišić, Kim Min-jae, and Raphael Guerreiro.
One question remains: Where is Jamal Musiala?
Bayern Munich is in Seoul, South Korea, for a preseason match against a proper 1st division European team for the first time this summer. Fans are eager to see what Vincent Kompany can accomplish now that key players like Manuel Neuer, Jamal Musiala, and Thomas Müller are back and available.
However, the squad is still not at full strength, with French and English players, including Harry Kane, absent. The goal of this friendly is to test tactics and determine what works. No one should panic if the result isn't ideal, right?
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