Bayern Munich 6-0 Wolfsburg: Initial reactions and observations

Full Time Observations and Analysis

• What a match! Bayern ruthlessly ripped apart Wolfsburg, and the Bavarians are now top of the table (goal differential)! Before today, Dortmund had been top of the table since Matchday 6, including a 9 point lead along the way. This has been an incredible run by Bayern to claw their way back to the top.
• Ribery may have been going up against a dejected Wolfsburg late in this one, but the winger still managed to pick up three assists on Bayern’s 4th, 5th, and 6th goal. What a fantastic performance form him. He deserves the praise.
• This is such a great result for Bayern heading into the massive Champions League match midweek against Liverpool.

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FULL TIME: BAYERN MUNICH 6-0 WOLFSBURG

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85- TOR! FC BAYERN! There’s no time to breathe. Ribery crosses the ball in to Lewandowski, and the forward heads it into the back of the net to give Bayern the 6-0 lead. Goodness.

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82- TOR! FC BAYERN! Ribery picks up his second assist of the half with a lofted ball to the far post that Kimmich hammers into the back of the net with his head. It’s 5-0. This is obviously done.

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76- TOR! FC BAYERN! What a fantastic goal from Bayern. Sanches draws multiple defenders to the end line before passing back to Ribery. The Frenchman hits a hard pass into the box to Muller, and he basically passes it into the back of the net. Bayern are up 4-0.

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74- Fantastic ovation for James as he’s subbed off, and he has deserved it. Renato Sanches comes on.

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72- The crowd goes wild at a score announcement in the stadium. Stuttgart have equalized.

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67- Casteels made a nice save to push Muller’s shot away, but it fell to the boot of Goretzka at the top of the box. He ripped a first time shot that Casteels had to make a brilliant, diving save to keep it out of the back of the net. It’s still 3-0.

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65- A team wearing yellow has scored in Dortmund. Bayern need to score a few more and pad their goal differential here.

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55- Kovac makes his first two subs bringing on Goretzka and Ribery for Martinez and Gnabry.

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52- TOR! FC BAYERN! James Rodriguez gets on the score sheet with a simple yet great goal from the top of the box. His shot was low, hard, and into the far corner outside the reach of Casteels.

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50- James and Lewandowski are inches from connecting on another probable goal.

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46- The second half has kicked off at the Allianz!

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Halftime Observations and Analysis

• The headlines will go to Serge Gnabry for that first half, and rightfully so, but it was also a fantastic spectacle for James Rodriguez. He was involved all over the field including a picture perfect pass to set up Gnabry to pick up the assist on Robert Lewandowski’s goal. As our own INNN said, “We don’t need Golazos, just those great passes.” Absolutely.
• There were a few shaky moments, but Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng put in a solid shift through the first half. The biggest defensive blunder was a turnover by Manuel Neuer that eventually came to nothing. More of this please.
• Robert Lewandowski has scored 19 goals in 17 matches throughout his career against Wolfsburg. He’s also the Bundesliga’s top scoring foreigner to ever play in the league. It feels crazy to say, but I think he’s still incredibly underrated for what he brings to the field for Bayern.

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Halftime- Bayern Munich 2-0 Wolfsburg

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37’- TOR! FC BAYERN! Wow! The Bavarians aren’t even giving you chance to catch your breath. James plays an absolute inch-perfect ball into Gnabry behind the Wolfsburg defense. Instead of trying to score himself Gnabry squares the ball across the middle of the penalty are to Lewandowski who easily scores to make it 2-0. The goal is Lewandowski’s 196th in the Bundesliga, making him the Bundesliga’s all time foreign goalscorer leader passing the living legend Claudio Pizarro.

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35- TOR! FC BAYERN! Bayern take the 1-0 lead thanks to the boot of Gnabry. The man with the new contract pokes home a cross from Muller to finally break the deadlock. Bayern had been threatening for a while, and it was only a matter of time.

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29- Lewandowski rips a shot forcing a very nice save from Casteels! Bayern are getting closer to that opener!

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22- A poor turnover in midfield from Bayern leads to a quick counter from Wolfsburg. However, the Bavarians are able to snuff it out before anything too serious starts happening. Still Bayern will need to be careful to not give up too many of these counters. It could come back to haunt them.

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19- James Rodriguez has been causing some headaches for the Wolfsburg defense. Few players an match the Colombian’s passing ability, and he’s put a few of his teammates in dangerous positions so far. Still, 0-0.

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10- Muller and Lewandowski are continuing to combine well up top. Wolfsburg must also be worried at the free range Rafinha and Kimmich are having up and down both flanks.

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2- Oh, what an early chance! Lewandowski and Muller combine on a break. Muller chips it over Lewandowski’s shoulder, and the forward brings it down. Unluckily, the ball deflects off of a defender, and Casteels is able to recover.

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1- KICKOFF! Bayern and Wolfsburg are underway at the Allianz Arena!

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Ten minutes before kickoff: Hello folks. Phillip here to take you through today’s action. I would not be shocked if we get a monster game out of Muller today to shove it down Low’s throat. Auf Geht’s Bayern!

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One hour before kickoff: We have lineups! Kovac has opted to go for Thomas Muller on the wing, with James at attacking midfield.

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The Bundesliga is back! While all eyes may be on the upciming Champions League game in midweek, Bayern Munich must host Wolfsburg in bid to keep up with Borussia Dortmund in the title race. Having just just drawn level with the league leaders the week before, Niko Kovac will not want to squander this chance to go top of the table.

Wolfsburg are Robert Lewandowski’s favorite opponents, so he is certainly expected to start. Flanking him will most likely be a duo of Franck Ribery and Serge Gnabry. Kovac has options at attacking midfield — James Rodriguez, Thomas Muller, and Leon Goretzka are all available, and the one who starts is probably going to be the one that features against Liverpool. Since Muller is suspended for that game, he’s the lease likely to start out of the three.

Joshua Kimmich is also suspended against Liverpool, but Kovac may not have a choice but to play him. David Alaba is doubtful for the game, and Rafinha’s services may be needed at left back. Aside from that, the Bavarians will be missing key players in Arjen Robben, Corentin Tolisso, and Kingsley Coman for the tie. Hopefully, Niko Kovac can manage without them.

It’s Bayern time.

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Match Info

Location: Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany

Time: 3:30 pm local time, 9:30 am EST

TV/streaming: Fubo.tv, Find Your Country

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