Monday, October 18, 2021
Nagelsmann cheers “extensively”
Bavaria’s gigantic appearance is scary
Before Bayern’s game at Bayer Leverkusen, some observers dream of a title fight in the Bundesliga. In vain. The record champions demonstrate their superiority in the Bay Arena. Leverkusen is on par with the sward, not Bavaria. They still have problems.
The Bayern stars were celebrated by the fans who traveled with them after the show of force in the top game at Bayer Leverkusen. 5: 1 (5: 0) the German soccer champions humiliated the previously enthusiastic Leverkusen junior guard around Florian Wirtz on Sunday afternoon and played “gigantic”, as Joshua Kimmich did with a view of the last quarter of an hour before the half-time break on the streaming service DAZN described.
In a coup d’état, Munich again topped the table with 19 points ahead of Borussia Dortmund (18 points) and Leverkusen (16). “Everyone was aware of the importance of the game. That’s why we cheer extensively,” said coach Julian Nagelsmann, who celebrated his team’s five goals on the sideline within 34 minutes as if he had scored them himself.
Because of eye level
Robert Lewandowski, who was previously goalless in two Bundesliga games, gave him a 2-0 lead (4th and 30th minute). Thomas Müller (34th) and Serge Gnabry then met with a double pack (35th / 37th) almost every minute. The goal for Leverkusen by Patrik Schick (55th) was nothing more than a blemish. The Bayern gala should have been a shock not only for Leverkusen, which went into the top game on par with Munich, but for the entire top of the Bundesliga.
For Nagelsmann, continuity is the basis for success. The new Bayern coach had started on the same starting line-up for the third time in a row, he wanted to make amends after the first defeat of the season in a 2-1 defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt before the international break. “If you bring in new people, you need structure and stability,” said Nagelsmann about his approach. It is also important to have “good jokers”. Nagelsmann looked at the substitutions of young star Jamal Musiala and Kingsley Coman – only two outstanding players on a luxury substitute bench.
Even Bayern have a few problems
If they “keep it stable” as they did against Leverkusen, other players would also come from the start. Nagelsmann is likely to be forced to do this in the intense 17 days with six games that began on Wednesday in the Champions League game at Benfica Lisbon. Left-back Alphonso Davies was replaced after 40 minutes due to a thigh problem and threatens to be out for Lisbon.
And Lucas Hernandez could be absent in the long term for legal reasons. The French world champion is threatened with imprisonment in Spain for disregarding a court ruling. On Tuesday – the day before the Lisbon game – the 25-year-old has to appear before a criminal court in Madrid. As of now, Hernández has to face a six-month prison sentence in the following days. The central defender was unimpressed by the procedure and possible consequences in Leverkusen. He showed “his best performance of the season,” said Nagelsmann. Two top performers that the stable structure could now lack.
Our colleague Gerardo Seoane at Bayer Leverkusen would like to have these problems. After intoxicating weeks, the highly acclaimed Bayer Juniors around young star Florian Wirtz, who had previously won five competitive games in a row, experienced a Waterloo. “The first half was brutal,” said the new coach Seoane, who appealed to the “honor” of his players during the break. “I never want to see that again,” said captain and goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky, adding: “I hope that will remain a slip-up.” The first acid test is due on Thursday in the Europa League at Betis Sevilla.