Oh boy. If i start writing about Bayern strengths i will end up with an essay. But let's highlight few things about them.
This is a strange period for Bayern. After the draw at home against Gladbach, Nagelsmann chose to rest many players because of our game which resulted in another draw for Bayern against Union Berlin. There's already criticism for Nagelsmann in Germany and he's been under pressure very early in the season. So Bayern are coming full force and not in the least relaxed.
Nagelsmann will probably go for his typical hybrid 4-4-2:
Neuer
Pavard - Upamecano - Lucas - Davies
Muller - Kimmich - Goretzka - Sane/Musiala
Gnabry - Mane
It looks like a 4-4-2 but Davies plays very high on the pitch when they attack and he becomes an extra winger while Muller plays closer to the two forwards leaving all the side to Pavard. And since there's no reference point in attack after the loss of Lewandowski their forwards are always on the move and their attack is very fluid. Also Kimmich and Goretzka are very aggressive and always press high to win the ball back. Hopefully Nagelsmann goes for ball hogger and wasteful Sane over that demon Musiala who can play anywhere in midfield, from CM to SS.
There are certain things we need to be careful about.
- Don't give any space to Bayern else they will punish you. Also any slow reaction to defensive transition would make us look like amateurs in their counter attacks. Lines need to be very close and compact.
- Their high pressure is good enough to suffocate any opponent. We need to find a way to counter it. Brozovic will need a lot of help from Hakan.
- There will be lots of overlapping from their fullbacks, especially on the left, so Dumfries and whoever plays on our left side needs to help Skriniar and Bastoni a lot if we don't want our cbs to get overrun.
- And something positive to give a bit hope to this thread. The matches against Gladbach and Union showed Bayern don't have a way to unlock defences when the opponent give them no spaces by sitting back and defend. We need to defend very organised and hit them in counter. That's their weakness. Are we in capable of doing it? I have my doubts.