After all the difficulties due to worldwide pandemic situation, finally the UEFA Champion’s League has come to an end where Bayern wins the Champions League 2020, defeating Paris Saint Germain 1-0 in the final. The final match was the perfect ending of the league, where the performances of both the team was neck to neck. Let’s dive.
Bayern wins the Champions League 2020: Preview
Bayern Munich faced PSG in UCL final on Sunday. After a long time, neither any Spanish nor English team was in the finals of the competition. It was a chance for both the teams to add a star in their crown. PSG had this golden opportunity to win the title for the first time while Bayern wanted to increase their count to six. The stage was set for a great battle where two managers Hans Dieter Flick and Thomas Tuchel will look to outclass each other.
Bayern wins the Champions League 2020: First Half
In the first half, Bayern started with the tempo. They were controlling possession and maintaining a high line. They started with a 4-2-3-1 shape which became 4-3-3 with possession.
PSG on the other hand started with a 4-3-3. Their main onus is to get behind Bayern’s half-line with their speedy wingers. The first half was a stalemate with both the team sharing the fare amount of chances.
Bayern tried to attack through the wings where they tried to create an overload of 3v2. Their fullbacks and wingers are supported by the occasional movement of central midfielders towards the wing. Muller played a free role in zone 14. He tried to make runs through the gaps of defence and connect with the wings.
PSG started on a 4-3-3 shape. But it shifted to an asymmetric 3-5-2 on transition. Neymar shifted to the playmaker position while Mbappe and De Maria operated in wings. They allowed Bayern to attack and tried to catch them on break. They were mainly dependent on long balls and through balls to attack the opponent and they were successful to create some chances.
Bayern wins the Champions League 2020: Second Half
The second half started with the same tempo. Bayern got more space and time on the ball and they were pressing heavily when they lost possession. They were moving like a whole unit. When the ball was in the opposite unit Koeman was moving in the centre to create space for a possible switchover. They were also rotating the ball continuously to tire PSG players and create an opening.
The first and only goal for Bayern came from a lack of concentration from PSG players. Kimmich got a loose ball near the 20 yards box. He clips it near the 6-yard box where Coman was waiting to pounce. After the goal, PSG started to get the rhythm back. They created some chances but they were very wasteful and they could not capitalize on Bayern’s mistake. Bayern also started making the game slow. They started making tactical fouls to stop.PSG attack. And in the end, they became winners.
Bayern wins the Champions League 2020: Tactical Breakdown
Bayern mainly builds up from the back. Their fullbacks are the main source of the attack. Boateng is an outstanding ballplayer. He takes the job of distributing the balls. They maintained a high backline to cover the space between attack and defence. Alcantara and Goretzka carried the ball through the PSG press. When Bayern mids we’re getting the ball two of their wingers are moving inside and Lewandowski was also dropping down in the attacking mid position. This was providing them with a 4v3 advantage in midfield and the midfielders we’re getting time and space on the ball.
The fullbacks we’re also pushing high up and as neither of the PSG wingers was contributing much in the defence to it was 1v1 in the wings. PSG backline was also staying low so their midfielders were getting engaged with Bayern frontline. This gave Bayern midfielders ample time and space and they controlled the whole game.
Muller was playing in the free role. He connected the whole game and exploited pockets of space in PSG defence. But this shape also made Bayern vulnerable. As the fullbacks were pressing high so PSG forwards got 3v2 advantage against Bayern’s defence. They used combinational plays and off the ball runs to open the defence. Mbappe used his pace to get behind Bayern central defenders and this created some chances for PSG.
But PSG can’t defend against Bayern’s high press. Two of the Bayern wingers along with Lewandowski pressed PSG backs. So Navas had to go wide. When he played the ball to the fullbacks Muller along with the central midfielder of that side pressed the fullback. The rest of the team also blocked the central path leaving no option for the fullback to pass centrally. This limited the passing options and PSG often gets dispossessed in the wide areas.
Bayern wins the Champions League 2020: Final Verdict
This match was a UCL final in true sense. Both the team’s desperation was clear with their game style. They played an attractive brand of football which was wanted by millions of football fans. Bayern was the better team between two and they were worthy to win UCL this season for the 6th time.
What are your thoughts on Bayern’s 6th Champion’s League victory? Let us know in the comment section below.
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