On Tuesday evening, the Allianz Arena hosted a tantalising fixture between two European powerhouses, vying for a slim advantage on their journey to the final at Wembley.
A Champions League semi-final meeting between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid was sure to create fireworks, having both narrowly beaten English sides in the previous round.
The tactical battle between Thomas Tuchel and Carlo Ancelotti was fascinating, ultimately culminating in a fiercely contested fixture with moments of both footballing brilliance and crass decision-making, perfectly exemplifying the magnitude and emotion surrounding the match.
Real Madrid’s attacking flair was on full display as their ability to unlock defences with expressive and innovative play caused continued problems for Bayern’s defensive line.
However, the home side equally hurt Madrid with their dynamic playmakers and key tactical shifts from a manager who certainly knows how to navigate the latter stages of the Champions League.
The home side showed their gritty nature and swiftly found themselves ahead, only to be pegged back by another moment of magic from Vinicius Junior, a player who has rapidly grown accustomed to huge performances on these crucial European nights.
With the tie incredibly poised ahead of next week’s visit to Madrid, both Bayern and Real will aim to unpick the key moments from the match and look to mask potential weaknesses in order to meet either Borussia Dortmund or PSG in the final.
This tactical analysis will begin to address some of the key turning points in this contest, highlighting how both teams were able to exploit the other in an alarming fashion.
Our analysis will hone in on the tactics of both sides, showing how they were able to operate with effectiveness both in and out of possession.
Starting Line-ups
Bayern Munich looked to set up in their traditional 4-2-3-1 formation, with the ever-present Manuel Neuer between the sticks.
Their defensive line was comprised of Mazraoui, Dier, Kim Min-Jae and captain Joshua Kimmich, who operated as the right back.
Just in front of the defensive line was the double pivot of Leon Goretzka and Konrad Laimer, representing an expert balance of both offensive and defensive duties.
The Bayern attacking quartet was formed of Musiala and Sané aiming to cause trouble down the flanks while Thomas Müller and Harry Kane were left to occupy Madrid defenders in the central areas.
For the visitors, we saw the continued use of Ancelotti’s 4-4-2 diamond, a formation which has certainly illustrated their tactical freedom and ability to form meaningful chances out of nowhere.
Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin maintained his starting berth, whilst long-term absentee Courtois aims to regain his fitness.
