Filed under:
How did Bayern Munich’s offense do in the Hinrunde? Here’s what we think!
Having already graded the defense and midfield, it’s time to look at the one aspect of Bayern Munich that functioned without any hiccups this season. The attack, bolstered by the 100 million euro acquisition of Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur, has been on fire this season — scoring in all but one game (0-0 vs Copenhagen in the Champions League) so far this season.
While the offense hasn’t always been as free-flowing as the scoreboards may depict, Bayern Munich still has one of the best offensive lineups in world football. The question is — how did each player fare?
In case you missed it, check out Part 1 and Part 2 of our series as well.
Minutes played: 451
Goals: 1
Assists: 0
Score: N/R
Gnabry effectively failed to participate in this Hinrunde with injuries eating up all his opportunities. Let’s hope that the second half of the season goes better for him.
Minutes played: 1,433
Goals: 5
Assists: 3
Score: 7.5/10
Nabbing a goal or assist every 180 minutes or so, Kingsley Coman had a solid but not spectacular Hinrunde. He remains the same frustrating player he’s always been — absolutely unplayable on his day, but far too prone to poor execution and decision-making in the final third. Despite turning twenty-seven, Kingsley Coman still plays like a teenager.
Minutes played: 1,916
Goals: 9
Assists: 9
Score: 9/10
Leroy Sané is finally playing like the player he was at Manchester City. Actually, scratch that — he’s better now. His offensive game gets all the plaudits, but what makes Sané so special is his all-round utility. He tracks back to defend better than some fullbacks, his free kicks are pretty good, and he can slot in on both flanks if needed.
The only reason the score is a 9/10 and not a perfect 10/10 is because Sané slowed down a little near the end of the Hinrunde, possibly due to the fatigue accumulating in his legs.
Minutes played: 1,212
Goals: 5
Assists: 3
Score: 7.5/10
Jamal Musiala has not been the same since the World Cup, and it’s honestly not his fault. The guy isn’t suited to the attacking midfield position. It takes away his ability to win 1v1 duels via dribbling — not because he can’t dribble, but because it’s too easy for opposition defenders and defensive midfielders to double up and smother him in possession.
Still, Musiala got a respectable 5 goals and 3 assists in his 1,212 minutes — a figure hampered by a muscle injury that’s been bothering him for some time now. Coaches need to put Musiala in a better position to succeed, which ideally means more rest, more minutes out wide, and more minutes played with the next player on this list.
Minutes played: 746
Goals: 2
Assists: 7
Score: 8/10
Frankly, the only reason Thomas Müller doesn’t get a higher rating is because of his lack of minutes. On a per 90 minute basis, Müller has the second highest number of scoring contributions on the team. That’s not all — later in the Hinrunde, it became clear that Bayern Munich were in desperate need of his leadership and experience on the pitch. In a season where outfield leaders like Joshua Kimmich and Matthijs de Ligt have lost their voice, “Radio Müller” feels more essential than ever.
Please let him play more often.
Minutes played: 520
Goals: 3
Assists: 0
Score: 5/10
Choupo-Moting was neither good nor bad, but Thomas Tuchel did him no favors by playing him as an attacking midfielder, especially when BOTH Thomas Müller and Jamal Musiala were fit and available. The idea may have been to allow Harry Kane to play a deeper role with Choupo up top, but it just didn’t work out.
Minutes played: 553
Goals: 6
Assists: 3
Score: 9/10
During the summer, there was speculation that Mathys Tel could be sent on loan. With the signing of Harry Kane and the continued presence of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, it was feared that the 19-year-old Tel would rot on the bench.
Tel has proven his doubters wrong, blossoming in his role as a super sub. His G+A per 90 stats are incredible, and he clearly has a great feel for movement and positioning. It’s a shame that Tuchel curbed the youngster’s minutes toward the tail end of the Hinrunde — he deserved more.
Minutes played: 1,789
Goals: 25
Assists: 8
Score: 10/10
Of course he gets a 10/10. When you make a hundred million euro transfer fee look like a bargain, that’s the least you deserve.
Bayern Munich were really good — offensively speaking, that is. However, the offense as a whole still doesn’t get full marks. Yes, the goals did come, but they did not come easily. Against certain teams like Leipzig (3-0 loss), Saarbrücken (2-1 loss), Köln (1-0 win), Copenhagen (0-0 draw), and Manchester United (1-0 win), the limitations of the team’s offensive gameplan were exposed.
Low blocks cause this team problems. Sané has to play every game because no one is good enough to replace him. Kane often finds himself isolated and lacking service. Müller does not play nearly enough minutes on the pitch. Musiala is rarely put in a position to make use of his talents.
The offense was good, but it could have been better. Considering the names available, Bayern Munich could have scored more goals than they did. Fans will hope that the team’s offense reaches new heights in the second half of the season, because right now it falls short of something truly great.
Do you agree with our ratings? Let us know what you think in the comments!
Related
Check your inbox for a welcome email.
Oops. Something went wrong. Please enter a valid email and try again.
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (AZ/CO/IA/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA/MD/ME/MI/NJ/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY), (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY).
Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-522-4700 (NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.1800gambler.net (WV).
21+ (18+ KY/NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/KY/LA(select parishes)/MA/MD/ME/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS).
Leave a Reply