If Tuesday’s Champions League games revealed anything
it’s that there is more to the game of football than possession. Both games
ended in 1-1 draws but the parallels don’t stop there, Bayern had 74% possession
and pass accuracy of 91% against Manchester United, whilst Barcelona had 71%
possession and 90% pass accuracy against Atletico Madrid.
Despite Ryan Giggs’ protestations Manchester United were
clearly underdogs ahead of the tie with the newly crowned German champions.
Such has been Bayern’s dominance this season that many claimed it’d be a
question of how many rather than what the result itself would be. Given the
injuries that United faced it’s hardly surprising that this was the view that
many took, but perhaps more surprising that it wasn’t the outcome.
Although United looked particularly vulnerable out wide
early on they grew into the game and should have gone in to the lead when Danny
Welbeck was presented with a one on one but opted to chip Neuer when a less cultured
finish might have beaten the German keeper. It was United who took the lead,
with a Vidic header from a Rooney corner, it showcased Bayern’s vulnerability
and their use of zonal could be a weakness Moyes looks to exploit in the second
leg.
The lead only lasted 8 minutes when substitute Mandzukic
knocked down a Robben cross for Schweingsteiger to rifle the ball past De Gea.
The scorer’s impact on the game did not finish there, he received a second
yellow card, meaning he will miss the second leg and while Bayern have a multitude
of talented midfielders to call on his experience will be missed. It was nice to see Rooney not react to
Schewiengsteiger’s claims he dived, the England man just shrugged nonchalantly,
Rooney is beginning to show the experience he has.
Bayern had 16 shots, but just 3 of them were on target
whilst the United defence managed to get in the way of half their attempts,
blocking 8 shots. Despite having almost 3 times less possession United had more
shots on target (4) from their considerably fewer (6) attempts. United also
restricted Bayern to shots from long range, half their shots came from outside
the area, compared to just 17% of United’s ( although that is skewed by the
small sample size of 6).
It’s interesting that Bayern opted for Guardiola as a
coach, given how last year Bayern tore what was essentially his Barca team
apart, 7-0 on aggregate. The result signified a shift in power, an indicator
that possession may not be the best way to win games and that a quick counter
pressing game was more effective. However, Bayern seem to have taken a step
back, their game is now heavily reliant on possession and although Guardiola claimed
they were to be a plan A-Z team and not just a plan A team like his Barca were,
last night didn’t show that. He has removed the fluidity and pace which made
last season’s Bayern so ominous.
Against possession based play teams will park the bus and
play on the counter and last night illustrated that it was just as effective a
way to play. Bayern played 701 short passes, at times in places it wasn’t
necessary, United were happy to let them have the ball in their own half and
only really became concerned when they neared the final third. But when they
presses Bayern they didn’t look comfortable on the ball, particularly not Neuer
who skewed a few clearances whilst being closed down.
Guardiola’s former club Barcelona could only manage a 1-1
draw at home to La Liga leaders Atletico and their away goal will have Simeone’s
men believing they can reach the semi-finals. Especially as Pique is now out
for 4 weeks added to the lengthy lay-off facing Valdes. Earlier in the season
Simeone said he doesn’t care about possession and last night illustrated that.
Atletico are very effective at what they do, their defence is one of the best
in the world right now and going forward they have the players capable of doing
damage. Whislt a lot of the goal scoring onus has fallen on Diego Costa this
season, his hamstring injury last night could be bad news for Atletico’s title
and Champions league dreams.
Barca managed 19 shots but just 6 on target, whereas
Atletico had 2 of their 6 attempts on target. The statistics are remarkably
similar to the United Bayern game, but whereas Atletico will fancy their
chances going in to the second leg it’s take a brave man to back United to go
through against Bayern.
Statistics courtesy of whoscored.com
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