Bavarian Football Works - Matchday 8: Bayer Leverkusen vs. Bayern MunichManufacturing goals in the German tradition, for domestic consumption and for export.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47275/bavarian-fave.png2013-10-05T21:43:27+02:00http://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/rss/stream/45685572013-10-05T21:43:27+02:002013-10-05T21:43:27+02:00Leverkusen 1-1 Bayern | Recap
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<figcaption>Alex Grimm</figcaption>
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<p>Bayern dominant in every possible category, yet are only able to muster one goal in matchup of Bundesliga title hopefuls. </p> <p>After the match, the general content of the discussion online revolved around trying to recall other matches where a team was so thoroughly dominant and yet didn't exit the game with three points. <br><br>That's really what the match was, almost an historical occurrence that will serve as a reference point for more matches like this in the same way that the 2012 Champions League Final does to this day. <br><br>By the numbers, Bayern were six and seven times the force that Leverkusen were in many key categories. Passes, for one, ended 629 to 118. Passes completed in the attacking third still more uneven, with FCB making 285 to the Pharmaceutical's mere 41. Shots and possession were just as tilted in Bayern's favor, out-shooting their opponent 27 to 5 and keeping 78% of the ball. <br><br>So, then, how did Bayern not win? <br><br>Shortly after <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110268/toni-kroos" class="sbn-auto-link">Toni Kroos</a> scored to put them in the lead a half-hour into the match, Bayern pretty simply got unlucky. <br><br>The Bavarians were in the lead for all of one minute after <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110243/franck-ribery" class="sbn-auto-link">Franck Ribery</a> found Toni Kroos with loads of space in the penalty area just to his left of the spot. A one-touch strike with his left foot later and it was 1-0.</p>
<p>Leverkusen took the resulting kickoff and eventually worked the ball down the right side, where Lars Bender sent in a cross that brought <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110254/manuel-neuer" class="sbn-auto-link">Manuel Neuer</a> out of his goal. Neuer deflected the cross, but the ball fell to <span>Sebastian Boenisch at a difficult angle to the left of goal. With Neuer recovering, Boenisch put a powerful shot on frame, but Neuer did well to save again. The third time would be the charm for Leverkusen, however, because this save only served to assist Sidney Sam, who found the ball at his feet and an open net no more than five yards ahead. Sam merely passed in the equalizer.<br><br>The time before and after the two goals in the match were almost completely filled with Bayern probing forward in the attack, the cross from wingers Shaqiri and Ribery, as well as Schweinsteiger, Kroos and Rafinha being the weapon of choice.<br><br>Without a true striker for the second match in a row, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110278/thomas-muller" class="sbn-auto-link">Thomas Müller</a> took the majority of the goal scoring burden and, unfortunately for his league-leading side, had an off day by his lofty standards. Not that Müller missing chances is something entirely new to Bayern, but he typically makes up for an early howler with one or two goals later on. <br><br>Today, though, it was all bad for Bayern's lanky German. I addition to pulling his first shot wide within the first 10 minutes, he inexplicably missed what should have been a routine headed goal after brilliant football displayed by Alaba and Ribery ended with Müller alone in space in front of goal. The cross required only the most average of on-target headers to result in his name being added to the scoresheet, but the attempt sailed wide. <br><br>The second half was even more dominant from Bayern than the first, forcing Leno to make save after save after save, but Bayern couldn't find the breakthrough. <br><br>Substitutes Robben and Götze tried to raise their side's attacking tempo and succeeded to some extent. <br><br>Bizarrely, the team that had tried time and time again to lead the attack with dangerous crosses suddenly decided the attack needed to be worked through the middle once their best aerial player, <span>Mario Mandzukic</span>, entered the match for Thomas Müller. <br><br>Bayern, sensing the three points were slipping away, mounted a final attack that saw two corners taken in stoppage time nearly win the match.</span> The last one <span>resulted in a Leverkusen counter which had the potential to completely ruin the Reds' dominant performance but it eventually came to nothing. <br><br>Because of Dortmund's loss to Mönchengladbach, Bayern are now alone atop the Bundesliga table for the first time this season, though they didn't reach that point in the most preferable manner. <br><br>Next up is the international break, with the Bundesliga returning in two weeks. <br></span></p>
https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2013/10/5/4806358/bayer-leverkusen-1-1-bayern-munich-recapScott Schroder2013-10-05T17:54:32+02:002013-10-05T17:54:32+02:00Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen | Gamethread
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<figcaption>Lennart Preiss</figcaption>
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<p>The BayArena is a rocking and Bayern are a knocking, but really they're just getting ready to huff and puff and flatten Leverkusen with a steamroller.</p> <p><b>Location:</b> BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany</p>
<p><b>Referee: </b>Knut Kircher</p>
<p><b>TV Listings</b><br>US: GOLTV<br>UK: BT Sport 1<br>Germany: Sky Bundesliga<br><a href="http://www.livesoccertv.com/match/821918/bayer-leverkusen-vs-bayern-m-nchen/" target="_blank">Other Countries</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Lineups:</b></p>
<p><b>Bayern Munich (4-1-4-1)</b></p>
<p>Müller</p>
<p>Ribery - Schweinsteiger - Kroos - Shaqiri</p>
<p>Lahm</p>
<p>Alaba - Dante - Boateng - Rafinha</p>
<p>Neuer</p>
<p><b>Substitutes: </b>Starke, van Buyten, Contento, Robben, Götze, Mandzukic, Pizarro</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Bayer 04 Leverkusen</b><b><a href="#" class="sbn-auto-link"> </a></b><b>(4-3-3)</b></p>
<p>Sam - Kiessling - Can</p>
<p>Rolfes - Bender - Reinartz</p>
<p>Boenisch - Spahic - Toprak - Donati</p>
<p>Leno</p>
<p><b>Substitutes: </b>Palop, Wollscheid, Hegeler, Hibert, Kruse, Castro, Son</p>
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<p>MIA SAN MIA!</p>
https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2013/10/5/4805782/bayern-munich-vs-bayer-04-leverkusen-bundesliga-matchday-8-2013-live-updates-lineups-gamethreadRyan Cowper2013-10-04T09:00:06+02:002013-10-04T09:00:06+02:00Matchday 8: Bayer 04 vs. FC Bayern | Preview
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<figcaption>Christof Koepsel</figcaption>
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<p>FC Bayern München will be prepared for what seemed like a trap fixture just a year ago</p> <p>Just a year ago, FC Bayern München's fabulous eight-game winning streak in the Bundesliga came to a screeching halt. Sidney Sam's winning strike in the 87th minute tripped the perfect start, giving the Bavarian giants their only loss of the season.</p>
<p>FC Bayern now take a 32 match unbeaten streak to Leverkusen, once again putting an unbeaten start in the German top flight on the line against a club that wants to be cool like the German big boys.</p>
<p>Third in the table, <span class="sbn-auto-link">Bayer 04 Leverkusen</span><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="#"> </a>want to dig a moat around their fortress in south-west Germany, defending their perfect 5-0 Bundesliga record in BayArena.</p>
<p>Manchester City provided a nice international test for <span>Pep Guardiola</span> and his squad, but now FC Bayern need to bring their recent accolades back to the domestic front.</p>
<h4>The Match (71st meeting)</h4>
<p><b>Location:</b> BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany</p>
<p><b>Referees:</b><br>Head Referee: Knut Kircher <span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany" title="Germany"><img alt="Germany" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/ba/Flag_of_Germany.svg/46px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="11" width="19"></a></span> <br>FC Bayern: 18 W, 8 D, 4 L (40 YC, 1 RC)</p>
<p>Assistant Referees: Robert Kempter <span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany" title="Germany"><img alt="Germany" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/ba/Flag_of_Germany.svg/46px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="11" width="19"></a></span>, Thorsten Schiffner <span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany" title="Germany"><img alt="Germany" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/ba/Flag_of_Germany.svg/46px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="11" width="19"></a></span><br>Fourth Official: Mark Borsch <span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany" title="Germany"><img alt="Germany" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/ba/Flag_of_Germany.svg/46px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="11" width="19"></a></span></p>
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<p><b>Television and Streaming:</b> GolTV (US), BT Sport 1 (UK), Sky Bundesliga 1/Sky Bundesliga 2 | HD (Germany)</p>
<h4>The Squad</h4>
<p>To say that FC Bayern have been on a tear is an understatement. Since their embarrassing DFL Supercup showing in Signa Iduna Park, <i>Die Roten</i> have gotten a point from all of their games. But now comes not only a Bundesliga test for Pep Guardiola, but a selection test as well.</p>
<p><span>Mario Götze</span> is back, having played five garbage time minutes in Manchester. Judging the criterion pertinent to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110271/bastian-schweinsteiger">Bastian Schweinsteiger</a> return, Götze should not expect a Starting XI spot just yet. Another cameo appearance seems highly likely though.</p>
<p>The 18-man team sheet will compel, for the inclusions could give a window into the direction Guardiola intends to bring his squad. <span>Jan Kirchhoff</span>, now fitter than before, may appear once again on the bench, which means Diego Contento's days as a consistent team sheet option could be limited.</p>
<p>Then there is the matter of <span>Mario Mandzukic</span>, who sat all 90 minutes on FC Bayern's venture to England. Presumably the 27-year-old Croatian will appear back in the side, but that means one of Bastian Schweinsteiger, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110268/toni-kroos">Toni Kroos</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110278/thomas-muller">Thomas Müller</a> and even <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110495/arjen-robben">Arjen Robben</a> will have to sit.</p>
<p>One constant seems Rafinha, who has now started all six games since the September <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/world-cup-2014">World Cup</a> Qualifiers. That means Lahm will remain in the center of the park, playing the deep support for Dante and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110259/jerome-boateng">Jérôme Boateng</a> (which at times has looked like a back three with Rafinha and <span>David Alaba</span> bombing forward).</p>
<p>Guardiola has startled before with some of his selections, so this guess is just as good as yours:</p>
<p><i>Projected Lineup (4-1-4-1):</i></p>
<p>Mandzukic</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110243/franck-ribery">Ribéry</a> – Kroos – Schweinsteiger – Robben</p>
<p>Lahm</p>
<p>Alaba – Dante – Boateng – Rafinha</p>
<p>Neuer</p>
<p>Bench: <span>Starke</span>, van Buyten, Kirchhoff, Müller, Götze,<span> Shaqiri</span><span class="sbn-auto-link">, <span>Pizarro</span></span><span><br></span></p>
<h4>The Opponent</h4>
<p>Do not be mistaken. This Bayer 04 Leverkusen team is a legitimate foe. Stellar at home, the only two defeats occured on the road, a 2-0 loss to Schalke 04 in Veltins Arena and a 4-2 loss to Manchester United in Old Trafford.</p>
<p>Their success has largely come in conjunction with the rise of Sam. The 25-year-old German appears to finally found his feet, scoring five goals and assisting on three others. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110276/stefan-kieling">Stefan Kießling</a> has also recreated his stellar performance from a year ago, scoring five goals himself up top.</p>
<p>With all hands on deck, manager Sami Hyypiä may just rotate his squad a tad, considering his midweek victory against Real Sociedad. Phillip Wollsheid may return to the center of defense, the young prospect replacing either Emir Saphic or Ömer Toprak. Emre Can may get a look-in, but it is improbable the 19-year-old will receive a cap against his former side, at least in the starting XI.</p>
<p>Besides that switch, a big showcase like FC Bayern is likely to see a similar cast of characters.</p>
<p><i>Projected Lineup (4-3-3):</i></p>
<p>Son – Kießling – Sam</p>
<p>Rolfes – Reinartz – Bender</p>
<p>Boenisch – Toprak – Wollscheid – Hilbert</p>
<p>Leno</p>
<p>Bench: Palop, Donati, Saphic, Can, Hegeler, Kruse, Derdiyok</p>
<h4>The Outcome</h4>
<p>For a neutral, this fixture should be at the top of his or her viewing schedule. These two teams have gone back and forth the past few seasons, although FC Bayern have won convincingly on a few occasions as well. With a deeper squad, Guardiola is only a knight move away from provoking Hyypiä's queen away from his king so that Guardiola's bishop can win the game. It will be close, and fun to watch.</p>
<p><b>Projected Score:</b> Bayer 04 Leverkusen 1-2 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/">FC Bayern München</a></p>
https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2013/10/4/4801090/bayern-munich-bayer-leverkusen-bundesliga-2013-television-lineups-refereesDavis VanOpdorp