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Initial observations and reactions:
- This is Bayern’s worst loss in a long time. After getting the world’s attention with a strong road performance mid-week against a strong club, Bayern came home and lost a game that should have been over in the first half. It seems clear that they very much underestimated Hoffenheim. Luckily for Bayern, it is still early in the season, but Bayern could easily lose their lead at the top of the table going into the international break.
- Coaching and team management are to blame for this result. After beating Spurs on Tuesday, Kovac needed to mix up the team and give more players a chance. There is no (logical) reason for Thomas Müller not to start this game. Müller was amazing straightaway for Bayern. He could have created more chances. Also, Gnabry was not very impressive for most of the game. Coman should have stayed on and Gnabry should have came off on the double sub. And lastly, Bayern finished without using their third sub. To me, that is inexcusable when down a goal.
- Defensive errors caused the two goals, and it could have been worse. Bayern fell asleep many times throughout tonight’s match. Adamyan could have had a hat-trick had he finished his first-half opportunity. Bayern could have easily been down 2-0 at the break. Bayern is lucky that Hoffenheim did not finish the many chances that Bayern served them on a silver platter.
Final — Bayern 1-2 Hoffenheim
90’ + 5 Yellow card. Ivan Perisic
90’ + 2 After a 90-second stoppage, we have resumed play
90’ — Three minutes added.
85’ — Bayern pushes for a late equalizer, but Hoffenheim is puttin everyone in the box. Bayern is not capitalizing on any half-chances.
82’ — Hoffenheim Sub: Adamyan comes off for Bicakcic.
79’ — GOAL! Hoffenheim. Adamyan with the brace.
73’ — GOAL! Lewandowski! Assisted by Muller
69’ — After a beautiful ball in from Boateng, Gnabry’s redirecting header puts the ball just wide. One minute later, Muller’s cross comes in for Lewandowski, who rises up and heads it over the bar.
67’ — Hoffenheim sub: Nordvelt on for Grillitsch
65’ — Stefan Posch puts a shot across goal after Bayern’s defense falls asleep on a routine free-kick.
62’ — Hoffenheim Substitution. Stafylidis on for Kaderabek
59’ — Double sub for for Bayern. Thomas Muller comes on for Coman, while Ivan Perisic comes on for Tolisso.
58’— Bayern gets deep into their attacking half. Coutinho puts a ball into the wing for Gnabry, with many targets in the box. Gnabry’s corss goes over everyone and goes out for a goal kick.
54’ — GOAL! Hoffenheim. Sargis Adamyan.
52’ — Hoffenheim wins a corner, but Bayern defends well. Bayern looks to break, but the defender makes a great step and takes the ball back.
47’ — Hoffenheim’s Skov gets a shot on goal from outside the area, but it is a soft looping shot, that Neuer gets to easily.
46’ — The second half is underway
Halftime observations and reactions:
- Hoffenheim had the better chances, but were not able to take advantage. The visitors have had two one-on-one opportunities kin the first half, but no real chances came from either.
- Coman has been the Bayern’s best player so far. Coman got to the end-line again and again, creating chances for Bayern. His crosses have been dangerous, but always defended well. If Bayern is not able to get on the end of one of his crosses in the second half, they better at least do something productive with an ensuing corner.
- Bayern needs to shake off the Champions League hangover. After a midweek barrage from Gnabry and co. Bayern have not looked to be the same team. Hopefully they will come out of the locker room, hungry for a win.
Halftime — Bayern 0-0 Hoffenheim
45’ + 2 — Coman wins yet another corner for Bayern. The corner is defended well, but falls to Bayern, who puts another ball into the box. This cross is defended equally as well and Hoffenheim looks to break. Thiago is shown yellow for a tactical foul, stopping the breakaway.
45’ — Two minutes of stoppage time have been announced
44’— Lewandowski goes down in the box after a nice header from Gnabry. No foul is called and Lewandowski does not protest.
43’— After a great build-up out of the back, Bayern passes their way all the way to the top of the box. A Kimmich pass finds Tolisso at the top of the box, but Tolisso skies a shot over the bar.
40’ — Hoffenheim’s Stefan Posch takes the ball away from Bayern on a thrown in and dribbles into the box unmarked. However, the center-back’s shot was soft and directly at Neuer.
33’ — Hoffenheim’s Bebou records a shot on goal from the top of the box, through traffic. Neuer goes to ground and is able to make the save.
29’— Coman beats his defender again to the end-line, but his cross is sent out again for a corner kick. Lewy puts the header well wide on the ensuing restart.
25’— Lewandowski opens up the defense with a beautiful pass into space. Bayern gets two shots off in succession, but Baumann makes two great saves.
24’ — Gnabry puts one in the back of the net, but Kimmich is called offsides in the build-up. VAR confirms offsides immediately.
20’ — Both teams looking for a breakthrough. Bayern leads slightly in possession through the first 20 minutes, but have not yet recorded a shot.
13’ — Bayern wins a corner kick after Coman gets a cross off from the end-line, but it is sent out. Ensuing kick is harmless.
10’ — Bayern has had possession in their attacking half these ten minutes, but has not been able to get anything into the penalty area.
4’ — Bayern got out of position when a ball is played in for Hoffenheim’s Adamyan. Boateng was able to get back and disrupt what was going to be a one-on-one opportunity against Neuer.
Kickoff — We are underway at the Allianz Arena.
Starting lineup and subs for Bayern:
Our STARTING XI and SUBS for #FCBTSG‼️ pic.twitter.com/BcqMAT38q1
— FC Bayern US (@FCBayernUS) October 5, 2019
It’s a shame that Bayern Munich can’t visit North London every week. After the incredible Champions League game we just witnessed in midweek, it feels a little bit depressing to have to come back to the Bundesliga — that too right before an international break.
Hoffenheim have been a tough nut to crack in recent seasons, mainly because of the influence of Julian Nagelsmann. Without him, Hoffenheim have struggled this season, and come into the game on back of a 3-0 loss to Borussia Monchengladbach. While Bayern Munich will be without Lucas Hernandez and David Alaba — i.e. both left backs, it will still be a tough hill for them to climb.
Niko Kovac, meanwhile, has to figure out a solution to Bayern’s left back crisis. Alphonso Davies is the only other player with experience at left back on the squad, but he’s unlikely to start — so Benjamin Pavard is probably going to be shifted to the left and Joshua Kimmich will reprise his role at right back. Given the defensive shuffling going on, the coach will hope that his attack — likely consisting of Robert Lewandowski, Serge Gnabry, Thomas Muller, and Ivan Perisic — will be clinical up front.
It’s Bayern time.
Match Info
Location: Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany
Time: 4:30 pm local time, 9:30 am EST
TV/streaming: Fubo.tv, Find Your Country
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