Shots: 15-9
On target: 2-0
Possession: 49-51%
Total passes 505-529
Passing accuracy 78%-82%
Duels won 55-45%
Interceptions 10-22
Clearances 11-29
Tackles 17-16
Tackles won 65%-56%
Fouls 10-13
Corners 5-6
I thought we started very poorly and were lucky not to concede in the first 20 minutes. The main reason for this was probably that we were coming off a long training break against a team very much in competitive rhythm. That initial rustiness was obvious and it's the downside of not playing every few days (the upside will hopefully manifest itself in the remainder of the season). It could have cost us this game and possibly the tie, but fortunately we escaped the dangerous period unscathed and then our players suddenly remembered the feeling of having the ball at their feet, from which point we were on top.
Both teams looked at times intimidated by each other, possibly a side-effect of both coaches bigging up the opposition and just the uncertainty of what to expect from the pacy attackers on the other side. Bayern were uncomfortable playing out from the back under the energetic high press from our front 3; there were lots of uncharacteristic sloppy errors from Neuer and the defenders, however they managed to work out some tactical tweaks in-game and get through it. At some point Neuer just waved everyone forward – no more mucking around, I'll just boot it. This is where having a player (or several) with unshakable confidence and arrogance really pays off – Neuer was just passed fit a few days before the game; had it been Ulreich in goal, I think he would lose his nerve at some point and this game would not end goalless. Small margins and all.
For our part, respecting the opponent too much led to making a wrong decision on the final pass time and time again. What stuck in my memory were 2 situations in the first half when Keita and then Gini had the ball on the break with us attacking in numbers (Bayern showing their vulnerability on the counter, which has been a problem for them this season), but both opted for a "safe" pass to the left for Robertson instead of a slightly more risky, but far more dangerous pass into the middle-right space where Mane and Salah were just about to break open. This part of the game started badly for us and never improved – the absence of a killer last pass in so many promising situations was the story of the game. Defensively, after the period of trembling-legs defending has passed midway through the first half, we coped very well, both Matip and Fabinho grew into the game, while Trent and Robbo did well not to lose their individual battles of Coman and Gnabry respectively. Fabinho was probably my MOTM for making a few inch-perfect tackles when we really needed him.
To be objective, we have to also give credit to Bayern players who defended far better and with more discipline and desire than they had for most of the season. Hummels and Kimmich were superb and I thought rarely-selected Javi Martinez gave Bayern a more stable platform in midfield than Goretzka. On the balance of play we showed that we are overall a better team, our front 3 looked more dangerous than theirs – but this is Bayern we're talking about and they were never going to break so easily. It will be very different in Munich – they will feel the need to attack and we'll have to endure some periods of relentless pressure, but this will also give us more chances on the counter, which as I said before, is probably Bayern's Achilles heel. Kimmich will be a big miss for them and Van Dijk (and Fabinho in midfield) will be a big boost to us. Overall, I feel confident that we can go to Munich and get a positive result.
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