Bayern Munich 0-3 RB Leipzig: Initial reactions and observations

Initial reactions and observations

• That has to be it for Thomas Tuchel, but it won’t be. Bayern Munich looked so pathetic out there it’s hard to know where to begin. Yes, Mathys Tel and a few other players missed chances, but that’s not enough to explain THREE GOAL loss to Leipzig. Bayern allegedly improved over the summer and Leipzig got worse, and this is the result? It’s even worse than last season.
• Harry Kane got maybe a couple touches in the entire half hour he was on. This system will make him beg for goals if nothing changes.
• Only the left side of the team was any good today. Alphonso Davies was excellent, Serge Gnabry was very good (outside of his shooting). Aside from that, Bayern looked offensively clueless and made a hapless U-shape on the pitch until Mazraoui came on to add some dynamism.
• Jamal Musiala is nonexistent in this system. It’s not about him succeeding Thomas Muller anymore, there is legitimate damage being done to his long term career by the way the coach is using him.
• Set pieces and corners are a catastrophe. What is Kimmich even doing? At this point you have to be glad when the referee whistles for a goal kick because Bayern’s corners are legitimately THAT bad.
• The memes will flow but this loss had nothing to do with Kane and everything to do with the man in charge. The bosses better take a long hard look because Tuchelball is some of the worst football this club has seen in 10 years.

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Misery. Pain. Depression. Interested in a more in-depth analysis of the game (laced with a healthy dose of the #TuchelOut agenda)? Then check out our newest podcast episode! Listen to it below or on Spotify.

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Full time: Bayern Munich 0-3 RB Leipzig.

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67’ — Goal. Olmo converts from the penalty spot. 3-0.

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62’ — Sub: Harry Kane comes on for Mathys Tel! Save US!

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45’ — Subs: Mazraoui, Kim, and Coman on for Pavard, De Ligt, and Laimer.

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Halftime observations and analysis

• It actually could not be worse right now. Bayern Munich are all at sea. Aside from Alphonso Davies and Serge Gnabry no one looks impressive. Jamal Musiala is invisible and Mathys Tel has been unable to finish. With no Muller on the bench this looks grim.
• Benjamin Pavard really looks like a Manchester United caliber player right now. Disastrous performance by him, all of Leipzig’s moments have come down his side.
• Thomas Tuchel has created a system devoid of creativity, intensity, and any form of cohesion. The October sacking needs to come ASAP. Make Kane the coach or something, who cares.

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Halftime: Bayern Munich 0-2 RB Leipzig.

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44’ — Goal. Dani Olmo makes it 2-0. Yep, expected.

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30’ — No goals from Bayern yet and it looks like it’ll stay that way. Can Kane be our coach maybe?

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3’ — Goal. Dani Olmo scores to make it 1-0.

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Kickoff: We’re underway!

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One hour until kickoff: We have lineups! Harry Kane doesn’t start as we expected, but otherwise Thomas Tuchel has some surprises in store. Bayern Munich lines up in what could either be a back-four or a back-three, with Mathys Tel up top and Gnabry, Musiala, and Sane behind him. Joshua Kimmich and Konrad Laimer start in the middle while Kim Min-Jae misses out in favor of Dayot Upamecano.

Neither Choupo-Moting nor Thomas Muller are on the bench.

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You know, after all the transfer chaos of the last 48 hours, it’s nice to have games back.

Bayern Munich almost lost the Bundesliga title because of RB Leipzig last season, suffering a crushing defeat that shocked fans and put the coach under major scrutiny. With those memories in mind, Thomas Tuchel will be well aware that he needs his team to come out of the gates firing on all cylinders.

Harry Kane should be eligible to play, but probably won’t because let’s be serious, he hasn’t trained with the team yet. In his place, Mathys Tel will get a chance to prove himself — a good performance here could recommend him for more minutes down the line. Konrad Laimer, meanwhile, will be raring to go against his former employers — ironically he was the one who put the nail in the coffin when these two sides met last time, scoring at the death to make it 3-1. Another one of those incoming?

Whatever happens, this promises to be a major clash. Leipzig, unlike Borussia Dortmund, have always given Bayern trouble in their clashes over the years. In many ways they’re the second strongest team in Germany for the last few years, and this game will show us if Tuchel’s Bayern is heading in the direction we want it to.

It’s Bayern time.

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While you’re waiting for the game, why not check out our Weekend Warm-up podcast! Listen to the latest episode below, or directly on Spotify!

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Match Info

Location: Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany

Time: 8:45 pm local time, 2:45 pm EST

TV/streaming: ESPN+, Find Your Country

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