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Three theses on Bavaria against Leipzig: Nagelsmann dares, Kovac despondent

2019-09-15T07:10:30.919Z


The top game shows: RB Leipzig is indeed leaders, but not yet at par with Bayern. But Niko Kovac shies away from the risk that he would have needed in Leipzig for a win.



1. Leipzig does not have the level of Bayern

RB Leipzig has wrested the record champions 1-1 and defended the league standings in the Bundesliga on the fourth matchday. When, if not now, would be the perfect time to send a challenge to Munich?

But the people of Leipzig knew exactly that, apart from the result, nothing speaks for this reading. To clear were the differences of the two clubs in the first half: Here met a big club on a young upstart - and Bayern let the Leipzig feel clearly. Leipzig players kept respectful distance to the Bayern players. Pressing? None. Umschaltspiel? Not to be discovered.

The Bayern players showed in this top game their best performance since their most recent trend-setting game, the 5-0 win over Borussia Dortmund. Recalling the optimum performance in important lots is a special quality feature. Bavaria succeeded, Leipzig not.

2. No Bundesliga coach can read a game like Julian Nagelsmann

Nagelsmann contributed to the weak performance of his Leipzig with the choice of the game system. In the 3-4-3 system Leipzig never got access to Bavaria's building game. But Nagelsmann's great strength is that he recovers his mistakes during a match. There were no other players on the pitch after the break, but the problems got smaller.

John Macdougall / AFP

Nagelsmann gives instructions during the match against Bayern Munich.

But what Nagelsmann succeeded in doing: His team worked out chances by outbidding their opponents both militarily and tactically. Nagelsmann's decision to rework the five-string into a four-string and bring another six with Diego Demme was fruitful at first. Leipzig mirrored the Bayern formation, thus generating access in every position. The Bavarians began to make mistakes under the high pressure of the people of Leipzig.

The RB players fought - and Nagelsmann steered the energy of his team with his system conversion on positive tracks. Even at Hoffenheim times turned Nagelsmann games with his tactical changes. No Bundesliga coach dominates this facet of the profession as he does.

3. Kovac should intervene more strongly

Before the break Kovacs Bayern gave an almost perfect appearance, up to the penalty goal conceded they left no chance. After the break, however, Kovac failed to align his team on the changed Leipzig formation. RB got several good chances until the 60th minute, Bayern's dominance in midfield was gone.

Kovac's answer? First, he joined Alphonso Davies for Serge Gnabry (62 minutes) - winger for winger. Then Thomas Müller had to give way for the defensive-oriented Corentin Tolisso (63.). Ironically, Müller, who with his clever runs before the break again and again had nullified the Leipzig defense. Tolisso, on the other hand, remained unremarkable as a tenth. And King's Transfer Philippe Coutinho? He came in the 88th minute, when the game was practically over. His creativity and unpredictability would have done well for the Bayern match earlier in the second half.

Today it has become clear why Kovač is a good coach (Bayern was very well prepared for the match). Unfortunately, the suspicion has been confirmed that he is not a very good coach (Bayern had in HZ 2 times again no answers to a conversion of the opponent). #RBLFCB

- Justin (@Lahmsteiger) September 14, 2019

Kovac avoided the risk that is needed in Leipzig for a win. After the game, he said in an interview with TV broadcaster "Sky": "Of course it's difficult to influence the team during the match ... The halftime break is the best time to correct something."

The fact is: the team of Nagelsmann came significantly improved from the break, the Bayern did not win the upper hand. This was not exclusively due to Kovac. However, his changes did not help to turn the game in favor of Bayern.

RB Leipzig - Bayern Munich 1: 1 (1: 1)
0: 1 Lewandowski (3rd)
1: 1 Forsberg (45 + 3, penalty)
Leipzig: Gulácsi - Mukiele, Konaté, Orban - Klostermann (46th Demme), Laimer, Forsberg (69th Nkunku), Halstenberg - Sabitzer, Poulsen (81st Cunha), Werner
Munich: New - Pavard, Süle, Boateng, Hernández - Kimmich, Thiago (88th Coutinho) - Coman, Müller (63rd Tolisso), Gnabry (62nd Davies) - Lewandowski
Yellow cards: Halstenberg, Nkunku, Laimer / Lewandowski, Boateng
Referee: Stegemann
Viewers: 41,939 (sold out)

Source: spiegel

All sports articles on 2019-09-15

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