One year since signing his five-year contract to become Bayern Munich head coach, Julian Nagelsmann has revamped and subtly restyled the squad he was appointed into. With friendlies, not always a clear indication of a team’s strength and style for the upcoming season, the DFL Supercup was the first match in the domestic competition to compare the Bundesliga champions against one of the title contenders for next season, RB Leipzig.
Using the 5-3 DFL-Supercup final, this tactical analysis will dissect the new Bayern system shining a light on their fluid, high-pressing attack to their vulnerability in transitions, as Die Roten starts their second season under Nagelsmann.
Lineups
Bayern started the match in their normal 4-2-3-1 from last season, which is the first time during the pre-season. The personnel in the starting eleven also looked very similar to the previous campaign but, with Goreztka injured, it allowed Sabitzer to reinstate himself into Nagelsmanns side. Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry started, providing the fluidity and creativity in attack to work interchangeably with new signing Sadio Mane.
Substitutions during the match saw wingers Coman and Sane replace Musiala and Gnabry respectively, followed by the trio of Ajax academy graduates who joined this summer. The current squad is unquestionably strong, with the depth to go deep in multiple competitions. The ex-RB Leipzig manager demonstrated the versatility of his system, changing to a 4-2-2-2 or 4-4-2 after the 68th minute, with Mane and Sane leading the line.
RB
