As of: February 8, 2024, 4:17 p.m
By: Vinzent Tschirpke, Manuel Bonke, Philipp Kessler
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Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel can disenchant top teams.
He already proved that against Pep Guardiola and he wants to repeat it against Leverkusen.
Munich - You rarely see Xabi Alonso with worry lines on his face.
The Spanish coach has built a top team in Leverkusen that has not lost a single game this season.
When VfB Stuttgart brought him and the Werkself to the brink of defeat in the DFB Cup game on Tuesday - B04 were twice behind but ultimately won 3-2 thanks to a late winning goal - the otherwise relaxed Alonso noticed the pressure possible bankruptcy.
The tension is likely to be similarly great before the top duel on Saturday (6.30 p.m., Sky), after all, his coaching rival Thomas Tuchel from FC Bayern is known for eliminating opponents in big games with special tactical tricks.
Tuchel already disenchanted Pep Guardiola with Chelsea in the 2020 Champions League final. Now he wants to cause Alonso's Leverkusen to stumble - the
tz
reveals which tactical tricks Tuchel relies on.
Bayern cracker against Bayer: Tuchel's tactical tricks against Alonso
Counter-attack protection:
Tuchel attaches great importance to counter-attack protection and residual defense.
The coach doesn't want his stars to take too many risks in building up the game; in particular, they should avoid unnecessary dribbling on Saturday.
The top priority is therefore: exude security and minimize ball losses.
Specifically, Tuchel is concerned with the balance between offensive and defensive thinking.
Of the defensive-minded players - four defenders and one midfielder - none of the players should be too bold at the front and instead prevent possible counterattacks.
Full-back:
The main focus is on Alonso's full-backs Jeremie Frimpong (23) and Alejandro Grimaldo (28), who play an extremely important role in the Bayer game.
Leverkusen repeatedly shifts the action to one side of the field so that the other full-back remains unmarked and moves into the center.
Frimpong and Grimaldo have already achieved 37 scorer points this season - the absolute best in Europe's top 5 leagues!
For FCB full-backs Noussair Mazraoui (26) and Raphael Guerreiro (30) this means not losing sight of their direct opponents when Alonso's team makes moves.
Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel (left) and Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso (right).
© Frank Hoermann/SVEN SIMON / Imago
A good transition game is important to Tuchel
Switching moments:
According to
tz
information, Tuchel will also be focusing on his own switching moments on Saturday.
After Leverkusen's lack of attention, it was important for FCB to play forward quickly and thus create scoring opportunities.
With this tactic, the coach of the record champions also won the previous top games against Dortmund and Stuttgart.
And: Bayer conceded the 1:2 deficit in the cup game by losing the ball in the build-up game.
Alonso then angrily scolded his protégés - after all, such mistakes can cost titles.
Perseverance:
Tuchel's guidelines for game control have another advantage.
In 2024 alone, Leverkusen has already won three games in the final stages, and the Werkself also scored a late equalizer in the first leg in September last year at the Allianz Arena.
Against Alonso's team, their opponents often have to run behind them for 90 minutes and then lose their breath at the end.
Thanks to Tuchel's focus on controlling the game, FCB turned the tables and wore Leverkusen down with their own ball relays - including staying power in the final phase.
Vinzent Tschirpke, Manuel Bonke, Philipp Kessler