Bayern suffered a defeat in the Champions League when playing against Villareal. Those who checked Footwagers tips for betting and hoped for a Bayern Munich victory were extremely disappointed. Not only did the Bavarian side score a goal in the first part of the game, but Bayern was also unable to make a comeback.
This was one of the biggest shocks of the Champions League season. Last year, they were much stronger, so losing to Villareal was not expected. This was all a result of a bad performance from the team, as well as the result of the disconnect between the front office and coaching staff and other things.
So, what happened during this game, and what might happen in the future after this defeat?
What Happened?
Bayern’s loss against Villareal was their first loss away from home in the Champions League tournament in years. The last time this happened was in 2017. The match ended 1-1, but on aggregate it was 2-1 for Villareal.
Alphonso Davies came back to Bayern after several months of absence because of myocarditis. While in the first part of the game he was trying to get used to the game, he seemed to feel better in the second part.
Nagelsmann changed the strategy of the game, putting Jamal Musiala as the number eight. Due to the attacking approach, the midfield didn’t have the best defense. Not only that but Die Roten returned from a knee injury while Leon Goretzka was on the bench initially.
Because the midfielders from Bayern were unable to coordinate, Villareal was the one dominating the match. The midfield was especially bad during the first half of the game.
There were also a lot of tactical errors, as the coach of the team had Serge Gnabry on the left and Kingsley Coman on the right. Because there was little consistency, there were also no goals.
Bayern Munich feels bitter after the loss.
“It’s extremely bitter that we conceded a goal towards the end despite the good performance,” said Thomas Muller, one of the Bayern Munich stars. “We played a good game. We have to blame ourselves for only scoring one goal. The course of the game did not deserve a 1-1 result. I don’t know what else to say. Accepting this defeat is extremely difficult, very difficult.”
Bad Tactics and Planning
Everyone who has been keeping an eye on Bayern or football, in general, knows that Julian Nagelsmann took over the team after the well-known Hansi Flick left. His departure had a huge influence on the team. Not to mention, many staffers left too, therefore a lot of knowledge about the league, system, and players was lost.
However, it seems that Nagelsmann wanted to imprint his own style on the team. He was very sought-after last summer, and everyone thought that he could be the one to bring Bayern back to glory. Unfortunately, the tactical plans were wrong, and they may have to rethink them now for Bayern to be successful again.
People expected Nagelsmann to use a back three since the team already did that for a good part of the season. But instead of doing that, the team now has wingers who are highly paid and have been painted as wing-backs or midfielders. Some bad squad planning decisions have been made as well.
The club lost Niklas Süle due to not getting out in front of contracts. Not to mention, the asking price from Thomas Müller, Manuel Neuer, and Robert Lewandowski was also exaggerated. Due to the reactive squad planning, the team had to suffer a lot.
Marc Hlusiak commented on Nagelsmann’s planning. “Bayern failed to get Lewandowski into the game properly in both legs,” he said. “He did score a goal yesterday, but to be honest he was pretty much out of the game. In Villarreal, they had a really bad evening and could actually be happy that they only lost 1-0. The fact that this result was not corrected in a full Allianz Arena is a real blow.”
Also, it looks like Nagelsmann wants to use the best players in wide attack positions, but this has not been mastered just yet.
“It’s not as effective as it could be. Ideally, Bayern has a fit Alphonso Davies on the pitch. With him on the wing, Bayern is much more effective,” says Hlusiak. “In addition, Leroy Sane is currently struggling on the right.”
What Will Happen Now?
Even though they lost, Bayern is not going to sit and leave things as they are. Bad performance is not tolerated, so the team is expected to make some changes so future performances will be better.
While other coaches have been severely criticized for not being able to meet expectations, Nagelsmann may not deal with the same thing, or at least not to the same extent. People will be looking forward to some improvements, though.
“Nagelsmann doesn’t have to fear for his job – no way. But his first year is now being seen as an ‘apprenticeship’ year.” says Hlusiak. “He was eliminated early in the German Cup and now also in the Champions League. The grace period is over, there are no more excuses. From next year the pressure on him will be much greater and you will look much more closely at any mistakes.”
There will have to be decisions made in order to find balance in the club. Even though Bayern is still considered one of the best German clubs, they have to prove that they deserve to keep their appreciation in the next seasons.
If Nagelsmann can make some major changes to the squad and have better tactical plans in future matches, Bayern will maintain its glory. The squad can be strengthened considerably, offering fans outstanding performances and ensuring the team wins in the next competitions, not having to face such a harsh defeat again. Everything rests on Nagelsmann’s shoulders, so let’s hope he does not disappoint.
