Bundesliga 2019/20: Bayern Munich vs Wolfsburg – tactical analysis

The last Bundesliga match-day of the first half of the campaign saw Bayern Munich playing against Wolfsburg. In a tight game, Bayern could continue their winning streak under Hansi Flick in the end whereas Oliver Glasners Wolfsburg

In the following tactical analysis, we are going to explain Wolfsburgs tactics that posed problems for Bayern so long and why Bayerns attacking structure was still sufficient enough to win this game.

Lineups and formations

Bayern head-coach Flick lined up his side in a 4-3-3 formation with Joshua Kimmich as the single pivot and Thiago as well as Thomas Müller in front of that. In the attack, wingers Serge Gnabry and Ivan Perišić played next to striker Robert Lewandowski. In the back, centre-backs Javi Martínez and David Alaba built up play while left-back Alphonso Davies moved high up the line. Right-back Benjamin Pavard on the other side stayed a bit deeper which resulted in the tendency of Bayern to play out from the back mainly through their right side.

Wolfsburg, on the other hand, set up in a 4-2-3-1 / 4-2-2-2 system as we will explain at a later stage of our analysis. Head-coach Glasner chose to start with Xaver Schlager behind attacker Felix Klaus. As usual, Wolfsburg deployed the physically imposing double pivot consisting of Josuha Guilavogui and Maximilian Arnold. Their fast and strong full-backs Jérôme Roussillon and Kevin Mbabu were supposed to support the attack in wide areas.

Wolfsburg’s courageous press

Contrary to many other Bundesliga sides, Glasner’s side did not aim at defending in their own half against Bayern. Instead, they set up a block within the opposition half and attempted to prevent Bayern from progressing the ball cleanly up the pitch.

To do so, Wolfsburg set up in a 4-2-3-1 which occasional switched to a 4-2-2-2. Whenever Bayern’s central defenders played horizontal passes, central offensive midfielder Xaver Schlager, who initially marked pivot Kimmich, moved forward to support striker Klaus during the press. The latter one then dropped to diagonally cover the Austrian midfielder and prevent Bayern from playing into the centre. Meanwhile, the wingers stayed between Bayerns centre-backs and full-backs and therewith automatically covered the half-spaces. Behind the four pressing players, Wolfsburgs double pivot took care of Bayerns advanced midfielders and covered the press.