Match Analysis: Bayern Monaco 5-0 Freiburg

After a convincing start, Freiburg takes an important exam facing Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena, back from mixed results and willing to take back the top of the table to continue the undisputed domination in the Bundesliga.

Despite the many injuries, Bayern wins and returns to convince at home with an important performance, similar to the levels we are used to seeing. Freiburg passive, static and without determination, completely subjected to the rules dictated by Nagelsmann’s men.

Bayern Monaco	Freiburg
1-4-2-3-1	1-4-4-2

26 – Sven Ulreich	26 – Mark Flekken
40 – Noussair Mazraoui	25 – Kiliann Sildillia
2 – Dayot Upamecano	28 – Matthias Ginter
4 – Matthijs De Ligt	3 – Philipp Lienhart
19 – Alphonso Davies	30 – Christian Gunter
6 – Joshua Kimmich	42 – Ritsu Doan
8 – Leon Goretzka	8 – Maximilian Eggstein
7 – Serge Gnabry	27 – Nicolas Höfler
10 – Leroy Sanè	32 – Vincenzo Grifo
17 – Sadio Manè	38 – Micheal Gregoritsch
13 – Eric Choupo-Moting	20 – Kevin Schade

Coach: J. Nagelsmann	Coach: C. Streich

An asphyxiating Bayern

The search of the width and the Guardiola’s influence

Bayern started with a basic 1-4-2-3-1 but since the first minutes of the game we could see how they build up phase was based on a 2+1 with Kimmich pivot and a narrow movement by one of the two left backs to join the build up and open spaces to the Wings.
This approach also helped finding spaces on the center, where both Sanè and Goretzka leaded their Half-Spaces working behind the second pressure line by Friburgo midfielders.

Overloads on field bands

Julian Nagelsmann is already known to be a manager that loves creating overloads and obtaining number superiorities on wide sides of the pitch with rotations or smart movements between players that have to cover the zones 10-13-14.
Against Freiburg the history doesn’t change: thanks to the huge ability from Full Backs and Wings to attack spaces as internally as externally, Bayern found a lot of spaces behind the opponents defensive line.
The first goal, for example, was born in a similar condition, with Davies able to recognize the perfect moment to cut inside the box after a narrow passing net between Choupo-Moting and Manè (below).

Also Mazraoui, in this occasion, filled the box supporting the overload and finding an helpful position on the edge of the box, obtaining a positive view to keep the attack (if the action won’t be closed) or to cover instantly a counter-attack from Freiburg.
Speaking about the Moroccan fullback, below we have another example of the fantastic using of overload by Nagelsmann’s player: in this case the helpful movement from the Bayern right full back helped Gnabry to take a dangerous position, isolating himself, where he could put a cross and build another goal occasion.

Filling the Zones 11/14 with three players

To complete the analysis on how Bayern built their win in the last game we have to speak about their ability to fill the zones 11/14 with an high number of players (generally three): also here the most important aspect to keep in mind is the rotations between players, never statics but always in dynamic approach. Below some example of this factor, including the important role managed by Goretzka that both left and filled that space manipulating the opponent’s idea to defend and keeping the Nagelsmann’s attacking pattern.

Freiburg didn’t passed the exam

In possession: an interesting build up never developed at all

Freiburg with a basic 1-4-4-2 that got different changes during the game, especially in the build up phase where the fullbacks opened their positioning almost pounding the wide lines, looking for a channel to avoid the Bayern first pressure. The build up phase was basically structured with a 4+1 system also trying to use Flekken as an active builder.
This idea was planned well but the develop by players was poor and shy.

Streich’s idea to fill the finalizing zone

In the develop phase, Freiburg tried to have a fluid positioning, potentially dangerous and surely reason of why they had this power start on the season.
Grifo and Doan, playing as Wide Midfielders, have assumed a narrow positioning behind the second pressure line by Bayern, leaving spaces to full backs in overlap.
Eggestein was the pivot in a first build up, while in the develop he assumed a central position behind the strikers leaving to Höfler the responsibility to play as playmaker.
Strikers tried to stay near center backs, forcing them to leave Bayern fullbacks alone against potentials 2v1 (never concretely happened).

Out of possession: the 4-4-2 behind the ball line didn’t work

As I wrote on the title, Freiburg idea was to play with a narrow positioning between players from the same pressure line in a 4-4-2 structure, having a first pressure on the Bayern build up based on a man-against-man making a low block that should also have covered Kimmich’s passing lines.
What it didn’t work was the space between each pressure line: the pressure was completely disconnected, leaving a lot of spaces to Bayern players to fill spaces behind the mid-line and to Kimmich playing as a pure pivot without any difficulties (considering this passive approach, it might worked better a proper man on Kimmich, maybe using a striker, considering also the numerical inferiority in the central side of the pitch).

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