Match date: 9 April 2014

Despite Bayern Munich dominating proceedings in the first leg of the tie, the aggregate score was 1-1, meaning that Manchester United had to score at some point during the second leg to force the issue.

To do so, David Moyes opted to start Danny Welbeck up top, with Rooney behind him in the number 10 role. Kagawa started over Giggs, Fletcher came in for Fellaini, Smalling for Ferdinand, and Evra for Buttner.

Pep Guardiola had Dante to call on, and so the Brasilian replaced Javi Martinez at the back, while Lahm was reverted to right back. Mario Manduzkic and Mario Götze both came into the starting XI as well.

Bayern’s Shape, Lahm and Alaba

Bayern began to dominate possession, much like they did in the first leg of the tie, but there was a noticeable difference in just how Guardiola set out his side to do so. Throughout the season, Alaba and, when he plays right back, Rafinha, have looked to vary their supporting runs and positioning as Bayern Munich make their way into the final third. Modern full backs, matched with wingers that enjoy cutting inside, as Bayern have, often provide an overlapping run to both provide width for the team and to drag defenders away from the centre, allowing the winger more space to get into. Throughout the year, however, because of Bayern’s dominance on the ball, Alaba and Rafinha, not so much Lahm, though he’s played mostly centrally anyway, the Bayern full backs have taken up more central positions that have allowed the wingers to be isolated with their defenders. During the first half of the match, the momentary trend became the norm for Alaba and Lahm, which you can see an example of below.

As you can see, Lahm and Alaba are both near the centre circle, forming what could be seen as a midfield triangle in a 4-3-3, with Toni Kroos in a holding role behind them. In last week’s tie, Bayern had a hard time creating chances and penetrating Manchester United’s back line. In theory, with Lahm and Alaba acting as “false full backs,” it allowed Bayern to retain possession of the ball in the centre of the park, while allowing Götze and Muller to play further up the pitch, in direct support of Mandzukic. Götze usually dropping into the space in front of Lahm, Alaba, and Kroos, with Muller acting as a second striker alongside Mandzukic. Below, you can see just where Lahm and Alaba received the ball in the centre of the park.

During the first leg of the tie, Alaba and Lahm were essential in providing the width for Bayern Munich in the attacking third. Their play opened up space for Robben and Ribery to cut inside, but without their width, the void had to be filled. Below, you can see the positions that Alaba took up in the first leg to receive the ball were much wider compared to those that he took up in the second leg.

Guardiola always wants his teams to have as much width as possible at all times on both sides of the pitch so as to spread the opposition and create holes in the defense’s shape. Without Lahm and Alaba doing so for Bayern, it meant that the role fell to Ribery and Robben, who are both very good at coming inside onto their stronger foot in order to influence play. However, it this particular match, for a large part of it, there was a need for them to solely provide width and a lack of space in the attacking third to move into with Götze, Muller, and Mandzukic all in the centre of the attacking third. As such, much of Ribery and Robben’s play came in the wide areas of the pitch and even in deeper areas of the pitch where Lahm and Alaba would traditionally move into when moving up the field to support their wingers. Below, you can see the position’s that Robben took up in the first leg to receive the ball and in the second leg.

If you’ll notice, Alaba’s positions in the first leg and Robben’s in the second leg are quite similar as Ribery and Robben were meant to drop a bit deeper at times to help provide width in the build up play when Bayern had the ball in their defensive third. Below is a good example of this. Lahm and Alaba are in their central positions in front of Kroos, with Robben providing width on the right for Bayern.

Interestingly, Ribery and Robben remained on the side of the pitch that corresponded with their weaker foot. Without the space to cut inside and with the instructions to provide width for the team, one might think that they would switch to flanks as the naturally instinct for a player is to play with their stronger foot if given the chance to play either way, thus if Robben played on his left he’d be more likely to play down the line rather than come inside. In fairness, Muller’s goal came from a right-footed cross by Robben.

Bayern’s Vulnerabilities

With Bayern essentially playing just Dante and Boateng at the back, Manchester United had the opportunity to create chances through quick counter attacks. As he did in the first leg, Welbeck played high up the pitch, and United were able to hit him a few long balls to into the space that Lahm and Alaba vacated as they moved higher up the pitch and into their central positions. A few times Dante and Boateng were forced to move towards the touchline into that vacated space to make tackles.

Unfortunately, for Welbeck and Manchester United, the striker was unable to get an opportunity like he did in the first leg when Neuer denied the England striker’s chip. In fact, Welbeck was unable to get any shots off during his time on the pitch.

Changes

After conceding and the scoring in the space of 22 seconds, it is hard to say whether not Pep gave up on his 2-3-5-esque formation or whether he was reacting to conceding or equalising. Either way, Götze was replaced by Rafinha, who moved to right back with Lahm staying pretty much where he had been throughout the match, just a little closer to Kroos, with Muller in front of them. This also allowed space to open up for Robben and Ribery to cut inside as the attacking third became less crowded, which later led to Robben’s goal.

Moyes’ tried to put more attacking options. At 2-1, he brought Hernandez on for Fletcher, which forced Rooney to drop into a deeper role. At 3-1, Januzaj was brought on for Welbeck, but the young United player failed to influence the match as he didn’t even attempt a pass and received just one that he shot over the goal.

Conclusion

From a neutral’s perspective, it was interesting to see how Pep set out his side. It may not have been as effective as he intended it to be, but Bayern were able to dominate possession and create more chances than they did in the first leg, something that Guardiola will certainly be pleased by.

Moyes, supporters, and the club will have all felt a full range of emotions after Evra scored to give Manchester United their away goal only for Mandzukic to score 22 seconds later. It will be interesting to see how long it will be before we see Manchester United at this stage of the Champions League again.