Bayern Munich played with 4-3-3 line up.
Borussia Dortmund played with 3-4-2-1 line up.
Dortmund pressed very well against Bayern. They didn’t let Bayern make pass easily in their defense line. If Bayern wanted to make pass in the midfield, they pressed very aggressively.
When they defended midfield, Haaland came to cover Martinez and they could cover opponent’s midfielders 1 by 1.
Brandt and Reus took position close to the centre midfield and if there is free space in the midfield they closed and covered free space. If Bayern’s one winger closed to the midfield to take the ball, they closed them and didn’t let them take the ball.
They took position in the half-spaces and so Bayern couldn’t use half-spaces. And also they could cover centre and midfield quickly. Because half-space is in between wing and centre and the same distance between both of them.
In this position, Müller is closing to the midfield from right-half space. But Brand was in half-space so he could cover him. Also Tolisso had the ball but Reus was in half-space too, he could cover Tolisso with Delaney.
So as a result, they let the opponent’s full backs some space and more than focused to the centre.
If Bayern Munich wants to make game from the defense, Haaland closed to Neuer and didn’t let him make game comfortably. He also took position closely to the opponent’s stoppers and Javi Martinez. Brandt and Reus pressed to the opponent’s stoppers and at the same time, they didn’t let Davies and Pavard completely free. And Delaney and Dahoud covered Javi Martinez and one midfielder who was closer to the ball.
They could press very well and made Bayern a lot of mistakes. But usually they couldn’t score goal after they took the ball. Reus and Brandt remained weak against Bayern’s defenders.
Actually Bayern could make game with the full backs but Pavard and Davies haven’t making game abilities. I talked about that in my Why Bayern Munich’s Attack Were So Effective In UEFA Champions League article. In the UEFA Champions League, if Thiago couldn’t make game, Kimmich was taking the ball and making game. But now there is no Thiago Alcantara and so Kimmich plays in the midfield.
But I think Hansi Flick could change Pavard to a midfielder and Kimmich became a full back. Because there was enough space in the wings and if they could use wings, they could solve making game problem.
In the second half, Dortmund could manage to draw the score and they took the momentum but then Reinier came to the game instead of Haaland and they lost the momentum. Reinier is not a bad player but Haaland was very good and he could enforce opponent’s stoppers very well. Of course not only one factor could change all the game and I can’t know what was Lucien Favre’s plan and what he thought but this change effected the game disadvantage for Borussia Dortmund.
Borussia Dortmund conceded by Bayern Munich 3 goals. 1 goal scored after one of Dortmund’s corner kick attacks, 1 goal scored by a cross and 1 goal scored by the result of an easy midfield mistake. So I want to explain, they could press greatly, found great score chances but they made easy and basic mistakes and lost the game.