Posted by Here are my player ratings from a 0-0 draw between Bundesliga title contenders Bayern Munich and R.B. Leipzig:
Leipzig (3-4-3)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann (6)
With Leipzig needing a result at the home of the seven-time defending champions to validate their own title credentials, Nagelsmann showed his worth on Sunday. He set his side up in a 3-4-3 formation, with star forward Timo Werner deployed from the left and January signing Dani Olmo as a false 9. His plan didn’t work in the first 20 minutes, as Leipzig struggled to get on the ball and create danger in the Bayern half. The 32-year old’s decision to start with three center-backs was particularly erroneous, as Bayern only played with one fixed forward in Robert Lewandowski.
However, Leipzig began to get a foothold in the match, as wing-backs Tyler Adams and Angeliño got to grips with the forward runs of opposing full-backs Alphonso Davies and Benjamin Pavard. With the wide areas secured, Nagelsmann’s formation stuffed-up the middle, taking Bayern number 10 Leon Goretzka completely out of the game. As a result, Bayern struggled to open Leipzig up. Touted as a future candidate for the Bayern bench, Nagelsmann did his reputation no harm on Sunday night.
Goalkeeper: Péter Guláscsi (7)
The Hungarian international didn’t have a lot to do during the match, with last-ditch blocks and timely interventions from his defense keeping him from making too many saves. Gulácsi did come-up huge late on for his team, palming a low Goretzka shot around the post after the former Schalke midfielder had broken through the Leipzig backline. Gulácsi’s super stop ensured only his second clean sheet in his last ten matches.
Right Wing-Back: Tyler Adams (7)
More accustomed to a midfield role, Adams struggled initially with the speedy Davies. However, Adams came to grips with the Canadian international as the first half wore on, and began making his presence felt further up the pitch. He often tucked into the middle to pressure Bayern’s midfield, and made some dangerous runs forward on the flanks. One such foray nearly created the opener for Sabitzer, who skied over from 12 yards out after a deflected Adams shot fell into his path. The American’s 99 intensive runs were 13 more than any other player on the field, showing the enormous contribution he made to Leipzig’s point.
Right Center-Back: Lukas Klostermann (6)
The young German produced a solid performance that underlined why he has become an important cog for Die Mannschaft in recent months. Klostermann was Leipzig’s best player in the first 30 minutes, confidently beating back the waves of Bayern pressure. He even found time to get forward, with a wicked cross from the right nearly finding the head of Christopher Nkunku. Klostermann was less troubled in the second half, and helped his side secure a valuable point.
Center-Back: Dayot Upamecano (8)
Linked incessantly to Arsenal in recent months, Upamecano justified his rumored 60 million euro price tag with a commanding performance in Bavaria. The France youth international made multiple crucial interventions in the first half, including a last minute clearance from a Lewandowski shot in the 39th. Upamecano was lucky not to give away a penalty in the 54th minute, with a clumsy trip on Lewandowski initially called before a VAR review judged the Polish marksman to be offside in the buildup. The 21-year-old grew in stature after that scare, displaying his ample technical ability on repeated occasions. He started one counterattack by carrying the ball to the edge of Bayern’s area from his own half, and set up a last-minute break for Ademola Lookman with a lovely outside of the foot pass. As the calm, technically adept leader of an impressive Leipzig defensive display, Upamecano showed he has the quality to be one of Europe’s best defenders.
Left Center-Back: Marcel Halstenberg (6)
With Bayern skewing their attack down the left for much of the match, Halstenberg was not as involved as his center-back partners. He was taken out by a one-two between Goretzka and Lewandowski that allowed the German a clear sight on goal in the 79th minute. However, he made amends in extra time, covering well on Muller after a lifted Philippe Coutinho ball had given the Bayern forward a chance to charge through on Gulácsi.
Left Wing-Back: Angeliño (6)
Making his first Bundesliga appearance since joining Leipzig from Manchester City in January, Angeliño got better as the match went on. Like most of his teammates, he struggled against a rampant Bayern in the first half, committing a few bad errors in possession. Yet, the Spaniard was more composed in the second half, and shut down Muller and Pavard on the right flank. Leipzig reportedly have a 30 million euro option to buy Angeliño this summer, and more performances like this will make that fee worthwhile.
Central Midfielder: Konrad Laimer (6)
The Austrian’s effort in midfield was vital to Leipzig’s attempts to shut down central supply lines to Lewandowski. Laimer made the third-most tackles (18) and ran the third-longest distance (12.26 Km) of any player on the field. However, he nearly undid all his good defensive work with a needless foul on Pavard in the 87th minute, with the Frenchmen almost connecting with the subsequent Joshua Kimmich set piece.
Central Midfielder: Marcel Sabitzer (C) (5)
Leipzig’s captain should have won the match for his side less than 30 seconds into the second half, but skied his effort horribly over the bar after being set-up by Adams. Undeterred by his shocking miss, Sabitzer worked well with fellow Austrian international Laimer in the second half to shut down spaces in midfield and force Bayern to attack through the flanks.
Right-Forward: Christopher Nkunku (5)
Like the rest of Leipzig’s forwards, Nkunku was starved of service for much of the match. He was shifted from the right to the left midway through the first half, and looked more dangerous on that flank. He almost collected his 8th Bundesliga assist of the season in the 64th minute, after a measured left-footed cross found Werner in acres of space on the penalty spot, only for the German to side-foot wide of the post.
Center-Forward: Dani Olmo (4)
Bought in January from Dinamo Zagreb amid interest from Barcelona and other European giants, Olmo failed to justify the hype surrounding him on Sunday. Deployed in an unfamiliar false 9 position, Olmo was always peripheral. The Spain international was replaced in the 69th minute by Patrick Schick.
Left-Forward: Timo Werner (5)
After nearly joining Bayern in the summer before signing a new deal with Leipzig, Werner was eager to impress at the Allianz Arena. Unfortunately, he ended up being more effective for Bayern than he was for his own team, missing multiple gilt-edged chances that would have given Leipzig a historic win.
Werner’s first sight of goal came in the 24th minute, with a right-footed shot from just inside the box going harmlessly wide of the near post. Later, the German rounded his international teammate Manuel Neuer after a poor attempted clearance from Jerome Boateng, only for David Alaba to block his shot. Werner’s trifecta of missed opportunities was completed in the 64th minute, guiding a Christopher Nkunku cross wide of the post when it looked easier to score than miss. 20 goals in 21 Bundesliga games so far this season is an enviable return, but Werner should have had at least a couple more against Bayern.
Substitutes:
Patrick Schick (for Dani Olmo in 69’) (5)
Schick looked to provide a focal point for the Leipzig attack after replacing Olmo. Although he has been in excellent form of late, Schick did not have a sniff of goal in his time on the pitch.
Ademola Lookman (for Nkunku in 82’) (N/R)
The former Everton man almost set up the winner in stoppage time, but his cross was brilliantly cut out by Kimmich before it could reach Werner. Not on long enough to rate.
Yussuf Poulsen (for Werner in 94’) (N/R)
Not on long enough to rate.
Bayern Munich (4-3-3)
Coach: Hansi Flick (6)
The former assistant to Joachim Löw won the tactical battle against Nagelsmann early on. His attacking 4-3-3 ran rings around Leipzig on the flanks, with Davies and Pavard free to make runs forward. However, Flick was unable to establish a cogent attacking alternative once the influence of his outside backs began to wane. Star forward Lewandowski was starved of service, and attacking midfielder Goretzka was anonymous. Although it was his first appearance since early December, dynamic winger Kingsley Coman should have been brought on earlier than the 85th minute.
Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer (C) (6)
The Bayern captain was a spectator for large stretches of the match due to the lack of precision in Leipzig’s finishing. An ill-advised charge off his line was nearly punished by Werner in the 49th minute, but the forward’s shot deflected off Alaba for a corner. Besides that moment of madness, Neuer was tidy with the ball at his feet, and made some crucial headed clearances when coming out of his box.
Right-Back: Benjamin Pavard (6)
Pavard’s attacking thrusts, while not as frequent as those of fellow full-back Davies, helped to pin Leipzig back early in the first half. His delivery from the right was dangerous throughout, and a precise cross almost set up Lewandowski for the opener in the 39th minute. He lost concentration at times in the second half, particularly when he played a square ball in his own third directly to Werner. The Frenchmen was also caught up field in the 64th minute, allowing Nkunku to get in behind him and present Werner with an excellent chance.
Right Center-Back: Jérôme Boateng (4)
A distinguished servant for Bayern and Germany over the years, the 31-year old’s powers seem to be waning. He was composed enough in the first half, but was a liability in the second period. First, a bizarre attempt to head clear put Werner one-on-one with Neuer. Boateng was skinned by Werner down the left a few minutes later, but the Leipzig star could not find a teammate with his cross. The master class in poor defending was completed in the 64th minute, when poor positioning from Boateng allowed a lofted ball from Lainer to find Nkunku in acres of space in the left channel. The former Manchester City defender was taken out of his misery in the 67th minute when he was taken off for Lucas Hernández.
Left Center-Back: David Alaba (6)
Although he is a natural left-back, Alaba was the more authoritative member of Bayern’s central defensive partnership. He did well to block Werner’s shot in the 49th minute after the Leipzig forward had rounded Neuer. Alaba was moved to right center-back after Boateng’s departure and helped shut-down the Leipzig attack in the final 20 minutes.
Left-Back: Alphonso Davies (8)
Davies turned in one of his best performances of the year against Leipzig. In his first full season with Bayern, the Canadian international has been a consistent starter with the German giants. Despite playing mostly on the wing at former club Vancouver Whitecaps, the 19-year-old has adapted seamlessly to the left-back position. Davies’ rise has allowed Alaba to move to center-back as cover for the injured Niklas Süle.
Davies was a constant threat going forward in the first half, driving Tyler Adams crazy with his pace and sharp dribbling. Demonstrating an ability to get to the byline on multiple occasions and deliver quality crosses, Davies was unlucky not to have at least one assist. Unlike some attacking left-backs, Davies is effective both going forward with lots of room in front of him and in tight spaces.
Besides his attacking output, Davies defended stoutly all match. He first shut down Christopher Nkunku before silencing the menacing Werner. He was also strong in the challenge, making more tackles in the match than any other player (20).
Central Midfielder: Joshua Kimmich (8)
Still only 25, Kimmich plays with the maturity and poise of someone ten years his senior. The heir to Phillip Lahm is the beating heart of this Bayern side, and he turned in a man of the match performance in their biggest game of the season so far.
The Bundesliga leader in passes, Kimmich was the metronome for Bayern all match, with more touches (128) and passes (89) than any other player. The Stuttgart academy product constantly dropped-in between the two center-backs when Bayern had the ball to facilitate the first pass out from defense.
Kimmich grew in stature as the match wore on, with his wicked set pieces causing trouble in the Leipzig backline. He worked tirelessly all match, running more than any other player (13.06 Km). He even had the energy to make a game-saving challenge in stoppage time, sprinting the length of the field to intercept a Lookman cross that was destined for a wide-open Werner. Although Neuer is the Bayern captain, Kimmich will surely take his place once the legendary goalkeeper leaves Munich.
Central Midfielder: Thiago Alcantara (7)
The second half of an efficient midfield partnership with Kimmich, Alcantara was his usual tidy self on the ball. The Spaniard married his elegance in possession with defensive steel, making the 2nd-most tackles in the match (19). He also showed a desire to get forward, taking more shots than any other Bayern player (3). With Goretzka invisible, Alcantara took it upon himself to drive Bayern forward from midfield.
Attacking Midfielder: Leon Goretzka (4)
This was a desperately poor showing from Goretzka, who came into the match in sparkling form. The ex-Schalke star had collected a goal and four assists in his previous three matches before this crucial meeting with Leipzig. However, Goretzka was ineffective on Sunday, as he struggled to find space between the lines in a congested midfield.
Although Goretzka was quiet for the first 80 minutes, his one moment of inspiration nearly won the match. With his back to goal, Goretzka flicked-on beautifully for Lewandowski and spun past Upamecano in one movement, striding forward to collect the return pass from the Pole at the edge of the box. With the goal at his mercy, Goretzka shot tamely into the grasp of Gulácsi, passing up one of Bayern’s best chances. In order to win a tight Bundesliga title battle, Hansi Flick will need more consistency from Goretzka.
Right-Forward: Thomas Müller (5)
The Bundesliga’s second-leading assist man coming into this match with 12, Müller was on the periphery of proceedings throughout. He got into some dangerous positions down the right but couldn’t find the final ball, and his forays inside were cut-out by an organized Leipzig backline. An inventive Müller through ball for Lewandowski in the 54th minute drew a penalty, but the Pole was ruled offside after a VAR review. Even on an off day, Müller did well to win important free kicks, drawing a yellow for Upamecano in the 50th minute and giving Bayern a dangerous free kick in stoppage time after Werner pushed him from behind.
Center-Forward: Robert Lewandowski (6)
Bayern’s talisman was starved of service for much of the match, and couldn’t add to his league-leading tally of 22 goals. Nevertheless, he was a danger whenever Bayern got him the ball, bringing his teammates into play with his back to goal and wreaking havoc in the Leipzig box. He would have scored late in the first half, only for Upamecano to clear his goal-bound shot. The Poland international’s hold-up play nearly delivered the winner for Bayern near the end of the second half, when a beautiful return pass for Goretzka left the midfielder through on goal.
Left-Forward: Serge Gnabry (5)
With three goals in his last five matches, Gnabry came into this match in strong form. Like fellow wide forward Müller, however, he was barely involved for much of the match. A sharp one-two with Thiago in the 26’ allowed Gnabry to cross for Lewandowski, but the Pole’s snap shot went just wide of the back post. Gnabry then saw a curler go wide in the 37th minute after cutting in from the left. The former Werder Bremen man didn’t have another intervention in the match, and was subbed off for Philippe Coutinho in the 60th minute.
Substitutes:
Philippe Coutinho (on for Gnabry in 60’) (5)
The mercurial Brazilian has gone off the boil since his standout display against Werder Bremen in mid-December. With only one assist in his last five matches, Coutinho had come in for criticism, with Bayern reportedly unlikely to trigger their 120 million euro buy clause on the attacker.
The former Liverpool player justified his detractors against Leipzig, with an ineffectual 30-minute cameo appearance. His only contribution of note was an attempted through ball for Lewandowski that was easily scooped up by Gulacsi, with the two Bayern teammates on completely different wavelengths. Unless Coutinho’s form improves dramatically, Lewandowski won’t have to worry about forging a better understanding with the Brazilian next season.
Lucas Hernández (on for Boateng in 67’) (6)
Fully recovered from the partial ligament tear he suffered against Olympiacos in October, Hernández looked assured on his first appearance in 110 days. He showed he had not lost any of his athleticism during his time out, making a great covering tackle on Schick in the 71st minute after the Czech international had found space in the box. Considering Boateng’s sketchy showing, Lucas should be in the Bayern starting 11 next week at Cologne.
Kingsley Coman (on for Goretzka in 85’) (N/A)
Made his first appearance since December 7th when he replaced Goretzka. Not on long enough to rate but showed flashes of his talent on the dribble.
Just for Kicks 