Bayern Münich won UEFA Champions League this season. They played very well and won all the UEFA Champions League matches.
They have an amazing attacking power and they scored 46 goals in Europe.
1) Line Up:
They played with 4-2-3-1 line up.
In the set attacks wingers were closing to Lewandowski, Müller was taking position according to forward players, Goretzka was closing to the forward line, Kimmich was closing to stoppers and midfield, Davies was supporting on the left wing. So, the shape became like a 3-3-4.
2) Attacking Moves:
Müller was usually using right half-space, right wing or centre forward for running. So, in the right wing, Gnabry and Müller was taking position amongst themselves. Sometimes Müller was closing to the centre forward and Gnabry was running to the right wing, sometimes Gnabry was running on the centre forward and Müller was running on the right wing and trying to escape opponent’s behind. So, I mean, they were moving and changing positions.
In this position, Müller is trying to pull the opponent’s stopper and Gnabry is running his behind.
In this position, Müller is waiting Gnabry’s move. And when Gnabry is pulling opponent’s stopper, Müller is running to the opponent’s centre defense.
In this position, Müller is waiting in the centre forward and Gnabry is waiting in the right wing. When Kimmich is taking the ball, Müller is running opponent’s behind on the centre and Gnabry is running on the right wing. At the same time, Müller is pulling the opponent’s 2 stoppers and Gnabry can run opponent’s behind and take the ball.
You see, there was not a certain rule. They were using free spaces and changing positions amongst themselves according to the situation.
Kimmich wasn’t supporting attacks like a normal full back. He was playing like Alexander-Arnold. You can read my article about Liverpool’s tactics to understand better. He was making game on the right wing.
In this position, Kimmich is closing to Thiago. When he is taking the ball, Gnabry is starting his run. And Kimmich is trying to pass him.
In this position, Kimmich is closing to midfielders. When Goretzka is taking the ball, he is taking great position and using free space. He is taking the ball and waiting Perisic’s run. Then he is trying to pass him.
In this position, Kimmich is taking position in the right wing. Then he is closing to Boateng to take the ball. Müller is taking position in De Jong’s and Busquets’ behind. Kimmich is seeing him and passing. So, he made game.
So, Kimmich was making game. He hasn’t great speed like Davies but he was supporting attacks like this.
In the left wing, Perisic was close to Lewandowski to create space for Davies. Davies has an amazing tempo and speed, so he can support attacks on the left wing very well. And of course he needs space to use these talents.
In this position, Perisic is taking position Lewandowski’s beside. When Perisic is closing to Alaba and Lewandowski is starting run to the opponent’s behind, opponent’s wing back and right stopper has to mark Lewandowski. Because if they don’t mark Lewandowski, Lewandowski can be so dangerous in the centre forward with the ball. So, they are covering Lewandowski and Davies can find free space in the left wing.
In this position, Perisic is running behind the opponent’s back. At the same time he is pulling the opponent’s stopper and right back. So, Davies can take the ball easily.
In this position, Boateng is taking the ball and looking his pass options. Then he is passing to Davies. Perisic was pull Semedo, so Davies can take the ball easily.
So, Davies’ and Kimmich’s attacking support styles are different.
In the centre and half-spaces, there were a lot of movements. 4 forward players and Goretzka were changing positions amongst themselves.
In this position, Bayern Münich is trying to make game. Thiago is coming between the stoppers to take the ball. But Suarez is covering very well and he can’t take the ball. Goretzka sees him and he is closing the stoppers to take the ball. Boateng is not passing to him and moving with the ball. Gnabry is taking position in the centre midfield and Müller is waiting in the right wing. And also Perisic and Lewandowski are changing positions amongst themselves. Then Davies can take the ball in the left wing.
In this position, Thiago is taking the ball. Goretzka is running to the between opponent’s midfield and defense line. Alba is covering Müller, Lenglet is covering Gnabry, Pique is covering Lewandowski. When Goretzka is positioning in Gnabry’s beside, Lenglet has to cover 2 players at the same time. Now they have a numerical advantage with 3 vs 4. And because of Lewandowski’s opposite way run, Pique can’t close to Lenglet to help cover Goretzka and Gnabry. And when Goretzka take the ball from Thiago, he is completely free. And also Lenglet can’t see Gnabry because Gnabry is in his behind. So, when Goretzka is passing to Gnabry, Gnabry is becoming 1 vs 1 against Ter Stegen.
In this position, when Boateng has the ball, Goretzka is covering by 2 players, Müller is covering by 2 players and Gnabry is covering by 1 player. When Kimmich is taking the ball, opponent’s left wing back is closing to cover him, Gnabry is closing to him, Müller is closing to centre. And when they are doing these moves, opponent’s centre and left stopper’s distance between is increasing. And Goretzka is running opponent’s behind to use this distance. Left stopper can’t see Goretzka and Goretzka can take the ball.
They pulled one opponent’s player and his closer teammate ran behind. All the times they were doing this. If they didn’t need to pull opponent’s player, they were running to opponent’s behind.
I can’t say clearly Lewandowski’s and Müller’s position. Because they took position to teammates. They are complete players. So, they could support and ran on to anywhere.
3) Game Makers:
OK. Players could use free spaces, run to the opponent’s behind and change positions amongst themselves but to do all these things, someone should pass them and make game. And these game makers are Thiago and Kimmich.
Thiago is the team’s regista. And he can make game very well. Sometimes he comes between stoppers. If he can’t take the ball Kimmich will be the team’s regista.
I talked about his game style, so he helps Thiago to make game and if the midfield is too crowded, he makes game on the right wing.
I showed you many videos about make game, so I don’t want to show you same things.
4) Result:
All the players are moving to create spaces in Bayern Münich and it is very important to make game. With a great communication, they can move easily and quickly.