The most played match in Bundesliga history, Bayern Munich vs. Werder Bremen is the definition of a classic. With an upcoming Champions League fixture on the horizon, it was imperative that the Bavarians be able to focus and not let slip their six-point cushion at the top of the table.
Jersey Swap: Michael Zetterer
Bremen was solid for most of the match but gave up a few chances, ultimately leading to its downfall. Mitchell Weiser had some good moments going forward in the first half but didn’t do enough to have a meaningful impact. Bremen keeper Michael Zetterer was powerless to stop Bayern from winning but did manage an excellent save on a headed Dayot Upamecano chance. Zetterer’s impact translated well to the statistics, as he prevented 1.65 goals based on Bayern’s 4.65 xGOT (FotMob).
Der Kaiser: Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-jae
Almost any member of the Bayern backline could justifiably receive this award. Sacha Boey put in an industrious performance upon his injury return, looking particularly impressive in the first half. It was the center-back pairing, however, that stole the show. Neither player put a foot wrong all night, and both were exemplary on the ball. Upamecano completed 97% of his passes, making 14 into the final third while Kim managed a pass completion rate of 95%, passing into the final third 16 times (FotMob). Upa and Kim achieving good pass completion rates while being so involved high up the pitch speaks to their growth under Vincent Kompany.
Fußballgott: Aleksandar Pavlović
Like the defense, Bayern’s midfield was on point. Pavlović was a huge contributor to Bayern’s domination of the ball, completing 94% of his passes and 100% of his long-ball attempts (FotMob). His movement and interplay with his teammates are of the highest level, and this standard of performance will give Kompany a real headache in evaluating who should start alongside Joshua Kimmich in the midfield in matches to come.
Der Bomber: Michael Olise
If it was Bayern’s defense and midfield that shone against Bremen, it was its attack that fell below the usual standard. Jamal Musiala had his moments but was far from consistent throughout the match. Olise, on the other hand, was the only attacking player who had a good first half and brought his strong performance into the second. Olise completed five of his six dribbles and won more duels than anyone else on the pitch at nine (FotMob). The winger was unfortunate not to have gotten an assist in the second half when he put Harry Kane through on goal, or when he did the same for Konrad Laimer in the dying minutes of the game. Goal contribution or not, Olise created the conditions for his teammates to do well.
Meister of the Match: Joshua Kimmich
Joshua Kimmich ran this game. He was exemplary on both sides of the ball, creating five chances and making seven ball recoveries (FotMob). The standard of passing Kimmich brings to the game is unmatched, and his ball to Harry Kane leading up to the first penalty was inch-perfect. It is hard not to feel as though Kimmich has the same things written about him match after match, but the level that he brings to each and every game is top-notch.
Looking for more thoughts and analysis from Bayern Munich’s 3-0 victory over Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga? Awesome, then check out our Bavarian Podcast Works — Postgame Show for a review of the starting XI, a rundown of the scoring and substitutions, and some final takeaways. You can get the show on Patreon, Spotify, or below:
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