Daily Schmankerl: The aftermath of Bayern Munich vs. Werder Bremen; Bayern scoping Real Madrid’s Fede Valverde?; Chelsea still hopeful for David Alaba; and MORE!

Die Folgen: Bayern’s 3-1 win over Bremen (Bavarian Football Works)

Bayern Munich was thoroughly dominant in its 3-1 destruction of Werder Bremen. The score could have been a lot worse, but Jiri Pavlenka — and the woodwork — kept the game somewhat competitive. Here are some quick hitters on the match:

• Not sure how Lucas Hernandez didn’t pick up an early yellow card on Josh Sargent in covering for a rare mistake from Joshua Kimmich.
• Kimmich uncharacteristically had some early turnovers that he typically never makes. In all, Kimmich lost possession 21 times. The 26-year-old did, however, eventually turn it around and have a really solid game. His ability to control the pace and flow of the match from the midfield was a huge advantage for Hansi Flick against Werder Bremen — even with some early sloppiness.

Photo by Focke Strangmann - Pool/Getty Images

• The growth and confidence in Kingsley Coman’s game has been incredible over the past calendar year. While he appeared to lose focus and/or stamina in the latter stages of his game, Coman was a disruptive presence for the majority of his time on the pitch.
• Leon Goretzka’s header for Bayern Munich’s first goal was sensational. To read the flick off of Thomas Müller’s head so deftly and to hit it so authoritatively was impressive. It was yet another assist for Müller as well.
• The interplay between Robert Lewandowski, Kimmich, Müller, and Serge Gnabry on the Bayern Munich’s second goal was nothing short of fantastic.
• Müller, of course, finished with two assists on the day in what was a spectacular effort.
• The Bavarians were dominant in the first half and while we saw some brief glimpses of how potent players like Milot Rashica and Josh Sargent could be, Bayern Munich essentially locked down the entire Werder Bremen offense.
• Coman delivered a perfect ball to Lewandowski on the 54th minute but his header attempt clanged off the post. That was extremely unlucky for the Polish Hitman, who was growing frustrated with his luck and himself.
• Lewandowski was clearly snake-bitten on the day overall — despite a wonderful performance. He had two great opportunities as the 57th minute transitioned into the 58th minute and the veteran was irritated that he did not convert either one.
• It felt like the Bayern Munich players sensed Lewandowski’s anger after that and really made a concerted effort to find Lewandowski consistently from that point forward.
• Bayern Munich had Pavlenka scrambling all game long, but the goalkeeper came up big several times in preventing the game from devolving into a complete blowout. Overall, Pavlenka was terrific.
• Lewandowski finally broke through in the 67th minute with a relatively easy effort off of a deflection. The goal was Lewandowski’s 32nd of the season.

• The 78th minute post-job by Lewandowski was incredibly unlucky as well. If not for Pavlenka and the “aluminum” as Müller would say, Lewandowski could have had as many as four or five goals.
• It ultimately did not matter because Bayern Munich had a 3-0 lead at the time, but as soon as Hansi Flick made his subs, the Bavarians lost their defensive shape and discipline — and it eventually cost Manuel Neuer a clean sheet. Niklas Fullkrug put home a rebound off an initial shot from Rashica that was a product of poor defending and a multi-player breakdown. A lot of people are blaming Bouna Sarr for the goal, but it was a really combination of failures that led to the opportunity for Werder Bremen.
• It was a shame for Neuer to lose his clean sheet on such a play, but the 34-year-old has nothing to be ashamed of with regard to his effort.
• Overall, it was just a superior performance from Bayern Munich and one they can continue to build from.

If you missed our Match Awards, Observations, or Postgame Podcast, give them a look or a listen:

Bayern eyeing Valverde, but Madrid isn’t like to sell (Marca)

Per a report from Marca, Bayern Munich is among the teams taking a look at 22-year-old Real Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde.

The Spanish outlet stated that the Bavarians had interest in Valverde last year, but nothing materialized. Now, however, it looks like Bayern Munich could be looking to acquire Valverde once again. Real Madrid is not likely to sell one of its prized youngsters, though:

Due to the current economic situation within football very few players are ‘unsellable’, yet that is the case with Fede Valverde at Real Madrid. The 22-year-old is a player that Los Blancos simply have no intention of selling, and he’s slowly returning to the high level he showed at the start of last season. Various clubs are looking at Valverde, including Bayern Munich, who made a move for him last summer after losing Thiago Alcantara to Liverpool, but they were knocked back by Real Madrid. The German giants haven’t forgotten about him, but Real Madrid don’t want to sell and the player himself wants to build a future in Spain.

Chelsea boosted after Zahavi denies rumor (Evening Standard)

While Bayern Munich free agent defender David Alaba might be leaning toward a future in Spain with Real Madrid or FC Barcelona, Chelsea reportedly felt a bit of a boost for its own pursuit of Alaba after the Austrian’s agent denied rumors of a verbal agreement with Barca:

Chelsea have been offered fresh hope in their pursuit of David Alaba. The Bayern Munich star is available on a free transfer this summer and Chelsea are among a host of Europe’s leading sides targeting him.

Barcelona are considered favourites to land the Austrian, with reports in Spain claiming a verbal agreement had been reached. But his agent Pini Zahavi issued a terse response to those claims, telling Goal: “That’s not true.”

Chelsea want to sign a top-class centre-back this summer, even after Thomas Tuchel’s transformation of their defence.

I’d still say that Chelsea is in a distant fourth or fifth place in the race for Alaba behind Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Paris-Saint Germain and possibly Manchester City.

Bale says Ronaldo was best he ever played with (Sport Bild)

Gareth Bale has been excellent for Tottenham Hotspur of late and when asked who the best player he ever played with was, the Welshman did not hesitate to answer.

“I have to say Cristiano Ronaldo. For me, it’s because of the number of goals he’s scored and the titles we’ve won together,” Bale said. “He is one of the best to have ever played football. So, I have take him.”

Bale played with Ronaldo 2013 to 2018 in Madrid.

Griezmann and Coutinho part of fire sale for Barca’s plan to buy Haaland (@IntChampionsCup)

If FC Barcelona really wants to buy Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland, players like Antoine Greizmann and Philippe Countiho should start packing their bags: