FanPost

Tactical Mixlights, RB Salzburg 1st Leg Edition



And we're back again for an extended edition of tactics review, with five offense and five defense sequences. Once again, they're presented as imgur decks w/ some annotations and commentary. Sourced from the highlights video this time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBJuqvOQK2I

D1: Goal conceded https://imgur.com/a/jNWffZf

A (bad) throw-in from Pavard and a whiffed challenge from Müller sets this into motion.

It's one of a few instances lately of a Bayern player trying to just be aggressive instead of being smart. The ball is lost, but if Müller slows his guy down and takes away his best options, he can press him into an eventual error. Instead, MOTM Camara gets all the time in the world to measure his pass for Adeyemi.

On the other end, Nags pointed out that this should have been easily defended. That's correct. Once again we have some Bayern players getting distracted from their primary responsibility, which is to mitigate down from the most threatening option.

Instead, Kimmich is worried about this backpass and then isn't there to bracket their 10, Aaronson, who delivers the assist. Süle is worried about Aaronson, who is going to get converged on anyway, and winds up giving Adamu a free look at the entire goal.

Should point out this is real class from Adeyemi & Aaronson. As we'll see, you do still have to convert opportunities into real chances.

D2: Barely tracking https://imgur.com/a/4OJ6zHQ

With Bayern's advanced LW, Salzburg routinely sent one of their two forwards to pull Hernandez out wide. To counter this, other players have to track back diligently. Tolisso has to drop into the left side of the backline, Sané has to be ready to help Kimmich, Gnabry has to man the right wing. While Tolisso was mostly excellent throughout, Sané and Gnabry drop the ball on this occasion.

Aaronson draws both Tolisso and Kimmich and he manages to turn and lose them both. Unfortunately, Sané is also captivated by Aaronson instead of minding a free runner out of central midfield.That was his lane to cut off. When Aaronson finds the CM, he's got an open corridor down the middle.

Again: Bayern players focusing on ballcarrier and not movement. Gnabry commits the same mistake: tracking the dribbling CM pointlessly instead of running down the passing lane to the CM's left. Thankfully the CM doesn't see it either, or he could have put Adeyemi through on goal.

D3: The 4-on-2 https://imgur.com/a/NpiOaPd

Bayern get saved again by less than classy play. Sané, at this point at RW, is caught napping and lets the LB intercept a ball into space and charge down the flank. The LB inexplicably doesn't keep the counter going and tries to stop on the ball, letting Sané run him down and atone immediately.

Sabitzer then has a real howler, lunging at a loose ball and sending the counter on its way again.

Like Sané though, Sabitzer atones. He gets back fast in time to help Hernandez and Pavard squeeze out Adeyemi -- impressive work under the circumstances by all three. All Adeyemi can do is shoot at Ulreich from a narrow angle.

Of course, there's a final chapter. Ulreich only parries to the spot and Süle/Kimich have been slowing their jogs for the last several seconds. The rebound falls to Adamu uncontested on the penalty spot. Pavard clears heroically off the line to spare blushes.

D4: Throw-in 1-2s https://imgur.com/a/8cnNcRl

Circling back to the first half, a near repeat of one of Bochum's goals.

Again Bayern playing aggressive more than smart. Kimmich launches himself at Adeyemi but doesn't get particularly close to an interception anyway. All he does is run himself out of the play, and Adeyemi is already running clear into the box on the other side of a 1-2. Bochum scored from near this exact position, but no worldie this time.

It's not like they were pulling inhuman feats of magic. Just defend a little smarter and I think Kimmich would have forced a less than optimal set of decisions. It's this all or nothing kind of play that then puts the whole team in a compromising position.

D5: Defensive highlight! https://imgur.com/a/KWxk4xD

We're ending on a positive note, folks!

Salzburg in attacking phase, five forward. The width is coming from a FW (Adamu), who is again trying to pull Hernandez wide to open some space centrally. Tolisso does a great job arriving in time to help, and so is Gnabry getting back on the other wing. All the attackers are bracketed well.

Aaronson receives and quite illegally tethers the ball to his foot as he jinks through traffic (only Musiala is allowed to do this, I checked). Outrageous miss by the ref.

But, with everyone back, they really do a great job of taking out his best options. In the end all the pass lanes are covered and he gets only a half chance of a shot away. And Gnabry collects the rebound and swiftly and skillfully sets Sané away on the counter. And this shows Sané's importance to the team in dropping deep into half-spaces, linking defense to attack.

O1: Lewy helps flick the switch https://imgur.com/a/4BvX1eJ

Bayern flood the left side to open a switch to the right. It's a team move, but Lewy's drift from CF drives it. Nothing to do with Coman (who hasn't inverted, but is down at LB). Rather, it's to pull the CBs left and send a CM runner (Tolisso) at the backline.

When the switch is executed, the poor Salzburg LB is helpless to stop Gnabry, Müller, and Sané all at the same time. And with Tolisso's cameo as CF, the RCB who followed Lewy to the sideline is pulled off him again, and the striker is lurking at the back post, ready to poach.

Sané, unfortunately, takes the wrong option and shoots on his weaker foot straight at the keeper. This is the attacking trend lately: a touch too impatient, too much pressing for the quick shot or the quick incisive pass. It squanders a lot of good work, because this LB is still totally screwed, and Müller has terrific options if Sané finds him.

O2: Müller-Gnabry Works https://imgur.com/a/NNLkcfr

Another good combination exhibited all season long is Müller and Gnabry interchanging on the right wing. Here, the overlap once again sets Müller free and gives him a great crossing position. Super movement in the box gives Coman a nearly uncontested header, but he doesn't get good contact. Still, a well-worked attacking flow that on another day ends up with Lewy tapping in a typical rebound.

O3: Missed chances https://imgur.com/a/1yQ8WBk

A lot of rushed final third decision-making didn't make the highlights, especially the cheap giveaways (Bayern had good pass completion overall on the day). But here are two that did.

First frame: good movement by Lewy drags along the only defender anywhere near Coman, as Bayern make a show of flooding the center of the box but also keep bodies on both wings. Sané, unfortunately, goes for something much riskier and is either shooting from a mile away or trying to improbably play Lewy in. Either way, a low percentage play, whereas Coman is in prime position to attack the goal or cross.

Second frame: Coman has again beat someone 1-on-1 and is cutting inside, angling his body only to shoot. In my view, he would elevate his game if he gave himself a passing option. He creates so much havoc that there end up being some pretty open players. There's another moment not in the highlights that looks just like this, except it's Lewy central and ready to shoot. Again, Coman is only shaped to shoot, even at a narrow angle, and not able to lay it off. I'd like Coman to create as well as score goals.

O4: Sané leads the counter https://imgur.com/a/XssIFi0

One of the rare times Salzburg are forward in numbers (a corner, maybe?) and Bayern show how devastating they are on the counter. Sané blazes upfield, cuts inside at the right moment, and feeds Coman who has sprinted across to overlap. Coman then feeds Sané in excellent scoring position and it's a great shot on goal.

It's good movement all around, as Bayern work in a 2-v-1 at the far post as well. It's a serious shame Gnabry pulls up on his run unnecessarily because he absolutely could have tapped in the rebound and equalized here. As was, he came close.

O5: Equalizer https://imgur.com/a/qNfygKl

Bayern's subs are now on, with Lewy-ECM as central targets and Sabitzer and Müller helping keep both lines of defense preoccupied centrally. Sané is now at RW. Both wingers take wide positions to pull the backline apart, and further keep the rest of the defense compact.

(I imagine the reason it's Sané right and Coman left is they are targeting the left flank specifically and mean to create chances for Coman to drive inside and shoot)

Lewy makes that same run that takes the RB with him where Sané tried a long range shot. This time Pavard sends a cross for Müller to nod on, likely understanding that there's a numbers advantage behind him. Coman buries it: a late but deserved equalizer.

It's another illustration of why I think some of the consternation over Lewy in this system is facile. He's constantly involved in creating the scoring chances, often a key part of it, whether or not he touches the ball. As for goals, he's got plenty of those too.

Closing

There's no doubt the team has to get a lot sharper, especially in attack. Good movement has to be clinically converted into chances. When they're not, they turn into counters and all of a sudden every defender has to take the right decision and the right angle in every second.

Still, it wasn't a 2.6-0.9 xG out of nothing. In the long run, the results should reflect this.

I had my worries with Coman and Tolisso, but for the most part they did their jobs quite well. There were moments where different players had glaring individual errors -- but for the most part they were also saving the day on other occasions. Very eager for Neuer, Goretzka, Davies, and Musiala to get back -- but not hitting the panic button just yet.

Now I'm curious to see how they will approach Fürth: a chance for the youngsters and depth, or more work to get the first team clicking better? Stay tuned!

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