[ad_1]
Bayern Munich staged a spectacular 2-0 comeback against Borussia Dortmund 4-2 in a thrilling Klassiker. Using Bundesliga Match Facts powered by AWS, we explained how the record champions did it …
Average position: trends, attack zones and player most pressed, the most recent data from the Bundesliga match powered by AWS, form the heart of the analysis.
Dortmund bets on flexibility
Dortmund made some changes to the team that beat promoted Arminia Bielefeld 3-0 on Matchday 23. With Jadon Sancho, Raphael Guerreiro and Gio Reyna injured, right-back Thomas Meunier made his first Bundesliga start since 19 January; defender Dan-Axel Zagadou returned to the starting lineup for the first time since January 16; left-back Nico Schulz got his first start since December 5; while attacking midfielder Thorgan Hazard last started a Bundesliga match on October 31.
Clock: Highlights of Bayern’s sensational comeback over Dortmund at Der Klassiker
For interim manager Edin Terzic, tactical flexibility was a must if BVB were to withstand Bayern’s stifling attacks, and that meant sacrificing midfielder Jude Bellingham for imposing defender Zagadou. “We have to be equipped for each phase of the game,” Terzic explained before the contest. Die Schwarzgelben duly started with a compact three-man baseline, which they maintained after Erling Haaland put them up 2-0 in the first 10 minutes.
As illustrated in Middle Position: Trends, Bayern, by contrast, adopted their usual 4-2-3-1 formation. The baseline was parked almost at the midline, while center forward Robert Lewandowski regularly returned to midfield. His first of three goals is a good example. The Poland captain instigated the move from a wide forehand position, before moving in to put the finishing touch on Leroy Sane’s low cross shot.
Dortmund played with three- and four-man defenses in the first half in a bid to contain a resurgent Bayern. – DFL
Terzic switch system
Terzic was unhappy with the way his team was becoming increasingly hemmed in by Bayern in the next round. So he changed his system around 35 minutes. Emre Can went from defense to midfield when BVB switched to a four-man defense. Initially, it looked like Dortmund would break free from Bayern’s grip, but then Mahmoud Dahoud caught Kinglsey Coman in the area. Lewandowski converted from the penalty spot in the 44th minute to tie the teams at half-time.
After the restart, Dortmund returned to their starting system, with Can parting from a back three. However, Terzic’s side pushed much harder than in the second period of the first half, and he didn’t allow himself to be pushed as far into his own half. Center forward Haaland, replaced by another energetic southpaw Steffen Tigges in the hour, occupied a much deeper position within the Bayern half. Until the final stages, Dortmund seemed on track to score a point, but then came late goals from Leon Goretzka (89 ‘) and Lewandowski (90’).
Kingsley Coman was a consistent outing on the left side of Bayern’s attack. – DFL
Attack zones: Bayern overload the left side
Dortmund were at their best between the first and 30 minutes, but couldn’t put a glove on Bayern for the rest. In the early stages, BVB showed real variety in their attacking zones, with their rapid shifts back and forth exposing gaps in Bayern’s defense time and time again.
Unlike Black and yellow, which showed no real preference in attack, Bayern favored the left side a lot. In the first half, 49 percent of his attacks came from the left, with 24 percent more through the left half space. In contrast, 20 percent was played on the right, including Lewandowski’s first effort for 2-1. Attacks using the half space on the right totaled six percent.
Even though the proportions were a bit more balanced in the second half, the left side remained Bayern’s preferred attacking zone, accounting for 44 percent of their forward forays. The play that ended with Lewandowski completing his hat-trick in the 90th minute started from the left.
Clock: How does Robert Lewandowski score his goals?
Most pressed player: Thomas Müller slightly ahead of Kingsley Coman
With Bayern concentrating most of their attacks on the left, it was no surprise that the left winger Coman was, for long periods, the player most under pressure, that is, the player who was most often subjected to significant pressure when he was in possession. He was pressured 30 times by BVB in the first half alone, and it is no coincidence that he was the man knocked down by the penalty Lewandowski scored 2-2. When Coman was substituted in the 66th minute, he had been pressed 47 times.
Only Thomas Müller faced more opposing press (48). Mr. Bayern threw everything in Dortmund, particularly in the final stages. He also won more challenges than any other player on the court (16). And while he was not directly involved in any of Bayern’s four goals, the Bundesliga match data highlights the extent of his contribution to a famous victory.
