Bayern Munich extended the record 14 game win streak to 15 against Bayern Leverkusen in the Bundesliga over the weekend. The 3-0 victory at home was a sumptuary watch for the home fans as the RekordMeister were too fast and too furious for the visiting side to handle. Leverkusen’s Robert Andrich highlighted where things went wrong for Die Werkself.
Lack of adequate pace and pressure against a team that has been in blazing hot form was the biggest driver of defeat according to Leverkusen’s Robert Andrich. Post the game he outlined why his side got hammered by the Bavarians. “Our goals were far too sluggish. When you’re 3-0 down at halftime, it’s almost impossible to get anything in Munich. We covered a lot of ground, but too much of it at the same pace. Overall, we were always too slow; the second goal was a prime example: no pressure on the wings, no contact inside – that’s an invitation for Bayern, no matter who’s playing.” said Andrich (via FCBayern.com).
The post-Alonso effect: Two key stats
Xabi Alonso was a revelation at Bayer Leverkusen, winning a maiden title during his tenure. He was clinical in changing the way the club played with focus on pressure, presence and quality. However, post his move to Real Madrid, the blues have settled in very fast at Die Werkself. Comparing this fixture to the last time these clubs clashed in the Bundesliga in February, the difference is akin to night and day.
While it ended in a goalless draw, that game was a completely different one. Leverkusen made 281 passes in the opposition half and 143 in the final third, compared to Bayern’s 116 and 38 respectively. Alonso’s side dominated Bayern in terms of pressure.
Comparing that to this season’s fixture, Leverkusen’s 161 passes in the opposition half and 63 passes in the final third were dwarfed by Bayern’s 419 passes in the opposition half and 272 passes in the final third.
While other stats do indicate a similar story, these two stats capture how much each team was in the other’s face. Alonso understood the simple fact that given space and time, Bayern will run away with the game. So, his side regardless of the result, never let Bayern breathe easy even for a single moment. However, after the summer things have changed quickly. From being one of the fewest teams in Europe to dominate Bayern in duels and pressure to now being a shadow of itself, Leverkusen is sorely missing its old boss.
If you want more takes on the match, let’s talk about how it all played out on this edition of the Bavarian Podcast Works — Postgame Show:
