Surprise at Lewandowski: Nagelsmann's move with Upamecano decided the CL cracker
Created: 09/17/2022, 04:58
By: Florian Schimak
Dayot Upamecano was in the starting eleven against FC Barcelona instead of top newcomer Matthijs de Ligt.
Nagelsmann's gambit worked out completely.
Munich – When FC Bayern's line-up in the game against FC Barcelona was published at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening, the first glances went in the direction of the defence.
Who would Julian Nagelsmann bring to Lucas Hernandez's side so that this association ensures that world footballer and ex-FCB star Robert Lewandowski doesn't score a goal on this Champions League evening?
Ultimately, the choice fell unsurprisingly on Dayot Upamecano, de Ligt stayed out.
Nagelsmann had already indicated at the press conference on Monday that the Frenchman would start because he knew Lewandowski from direct duels against RB Leipzig - and also trained with him last season.
In the first 45 minutes, however, Bayern were dumbfounded that Lewandowski didn't hurt his former club at least once.
"Robert has a heart after all," said President Herbert Hainer with a wink after the game in the mixed zone.
The 34-year-old missed two top-class chances in the first round.
Surprise at Lewandowski: How Nagelsmann's move with Upamecano decided the CL cracker
"We can be glad that he didn't hit the ball so well today," said match winner Leroy Sané: "He usually puts it in." Sport director Hasan Salihamidzic was also surprised by Lewandowski's unusual finishing weakness.
"He had two or three good scenes and I was surprised that he didn't make more of it," says Brazzo: "We're glad we didn't fall behind."
In the end, the game went goalless at the break.
Shortly after the restart, Upamecano made his only lapse when he put the ball in Gavi's foot at the start of the game, which Raphinha staged and whose finish just missed Manuel Neuer's goal by an inch.
Some kind of wake up call?
Because from that moment on, the game turned in favor of Bayern.
One of the reasons was that Upamecano and Hernandez defended outstandingly from then on (both
tz
rating 1).
From then on there was hardly anything to be seen of Lewandowski because the central defender duo almost completely unregistered the world footballer.
Above all, Upamecano resolutely kept the Poles in check.
Dayot Upamecano (left) knocked out Robert Lewandowski (on the ground) for long stretches.
© IMAGO / MIS
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Thanks to his speed and robust nature, Upamecano took the Barca striker's passion out of playing football.
The 23-year-old really bit into Lewandowski and repaid the trust placed in him with a formidable performance.
Symbolic was an action in the middle of the second half when Upamecano worked Lewandowski hard but fairly and immediately started the switching game by winning the ball, while Lewy lay on the ground with a pained face.
Dayot Upamecano and Lucas Hernandez pull Lewandowski's tooth: FC Bayern defeats Barca
"They did well, but I can't say that others did worse," said Salihamidzic, who was satisfied with the defensive duo, but didn't want to become euphoric either.
Perhaps because he already suspected that the Upamecano-Hernandez network would no longer be available in the coming weeks.
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Hernandez is out for several weeks with a torn adductor muscle.
Upamecano, who had also left the arena with a bandage on Tuesday evening, received the all-clear, as did Benjamin Pavard, who had to leave the field in the 21st minute after colliding with Marcos Alonso.
So for Saturday at FC Augsburg (3.30 p.m.) the question of whether Upamecano or de Ligt will start has already been settled.
The answer will most likely be: Upamecano and de Ligt.
(smk)
