Hertha Berlin 1-4 Bayern Munich: Initial reactions and observations

Initial reactions and observations

• That was a masterclass in how NOT to finish by Bayern Munich. So many chances were wasted, it felt like the lads didn’t even care at times.
• Somehow, Robert Lewandowski ended this game scoreless. He could’ve used a lot more service.
• Julian Nagelsmann waited a bit too long for his subs. Omar Richards, Paul Wanner, and Jamal Musiala maybe should’ve come on by the hour mark.
• Record chasers Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski get nothing from this game — they’ll have to make up for it after the international break.
• Manuel Neuer will be fuming at Upamecano for costing him the clean sheet. Not a great performance by the Frenchman after coming on.

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Full time: Bayern Munich win 4-1.

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88’ — Noooo! Sane has a great goal ruled out by VAR.

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80’ — Goal. Hertha get one back, mistake by Upamecano who just came on.

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78’ — GOAL! Serge Gnabry makes it 4-0 after soooooo many attempts!

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74’ — GOAL! Leroy Sane hustles onto a loose pass and scores!

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68’ — Subs: Richards and Sabitzer on for Coman and Tolisso.

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45’ — The second half is underway!

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Halftime observations and analysis

• Bayern Munich lead 2-0 but the xG is closer to 3.5 or 4. Hertha have been very lucky.
• This is a perfect statpad game but Lewandowski has zero goals and Muller has zero assists.
• Tolisso looks great — extension incoming?

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Halftime: Bayern lead 2-0.

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45’ — GOAL! Finally! Thomas Muller makes it 2-0 at the stroke of HT.

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25’ — GOAL! Tolisso makes it 1-0 thanks to a cross from Coman!

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15’ — This is some level of domination. Bayern’s attack is peppering the Hertha goal. No idea how this is still goalless.

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2’ — We’re only 2 minutes in and an early goal by Tolisso has been ruled off by VAR.

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Kickoff: We’re underway!

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One hour until kickoff: We have lineups! Bayern Munich will start with Leroy Sane, Kingsley Coman, AND Serge Gnabry in the XI. Julian Nagelsmann clearly wants goals in this game, and it shows. For some reason the official accounts are sleeping, so here it is from @iMiaSanMia.

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The Bundesliga only just came back, and it’s going away again. Such is the international calendar of 2022, thanks to the Qatar World Cup.

This week, Bayern Munich take on Hertha Berlin in a rare Sunday game, with the goal being to take all three points as always. The Berliners are presumably tired from their excursions against cross-town rivals Union in midweek, but Bayern still have a number of players doubtful due to COVID-19 infections and various other issues.

Of course, all of that will mean very little to Julian Nagelsmann. Having already suffered a defeat in 2022, he’ll go into this game with as much firepower as his squad can muster. Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller are both in red-hot form, while Leroy Sane could make his comeback to the starting XI after a long hiatus due to illness. On the defensive end of things, the return of Lucas Hernandez should definitely help Niklas Sule and Benjamin Pavard keep things tight at the back. Can Nagelsmann keep his team ticking along?

It’s Bayern time.

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While you’re waiting for the game, why not check out our preview podcast? Listen to it below or at this link.

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Match Info

Location: Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany

Time: 5:30 pm local time, 11:30 am EST

TV/streaming: ESPN+, Find Your Country

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