FC Bayern Munich

Many Team of the Season selections are, frankly, boring. Sometimes, you couldn't really call it a team; it's just a selection of eleven players, and their actual positions don't even matter. Sometimes, it's just an absurd selection because the idea is to pick only the players they think are the...

Dribbling has long been one of football’s most eye-catching actions—a burst of creativity capable of shifting momentum in an instant. This tactical analysis examines how dribbling serves as a strategic mechanism within various systems and styles of play, focusing on the roles of Rafael Leão at AC Milan, Jamal Musiala at Bayern Munich, Ousmane Dembélé at Paris Saint-Germain, and the...

The stage was set at San Siro this Wednesday night for two of the biggest names in European football to compete for a spot in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. The home team, Inter Milan, was taking their 2-1 lead that they earned through a late goal at the Allianz...

We have all observed how Declan Rice scored two goals from direct free kicks to facilitate Arsenal's victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. It is widely recognised that direct free kicks can be decisive in football, particularly when a team possesses skilled...

The world’s attention is now fixed on the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals as we draw ever closer to a series of thrilling and captivating matches. The UEFA Champions League quarter-finals high-profile clashes: Bayern Munich take on Inter Milan, Arsenal host Real Madrid, Barcelona face Borussia Dortmund, and Paris Saint-Germain meet...

This tactical theory will analyse recent trends concerning how goalkeepers are utilised.  Long gone are the days of goalkeepers simply being considered the last line of defence.  They are now instrumental in implementing the tactical philosophy of the game's elite coaches.  Two recent trends that are on the rise are...

In this tactical analysis, we examine build-up play and explain how opposition-pressing triggers can be exploited to overcome the press. We will analyse the most common pressing triggers and their influence on available space and passing lanes. Cover-Shadow Exploitation In order to find solutions to overcome the opposition press, one...

The inverted full-back position is an ever-evolving position, and new ideas and tactics for best utilising these players are constantly being introduced. This tactical analysis will show some of the most common ways inverted full-backs are being used not just in the build-up but also to finish off attacks. Inverted full-backs can become...

Despite currently enjoying an eight-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga, putting them on the path to a record-extending 34th German championship, Bayern Munich were unable to break their Bayer Leverkusen hoodoo on the domestic scene from last season in their direct battles. With both league fixtures for the...

It feels like a lifetime ago that I last posted an article for Total Football Analysis, but in the end, the itch to write and share insights has pulled me back. For the first series of articles that I plan to share with you all, I want to take a...

This week marked the start of the UEFA Champions League’s highly anticipated Round of 32, with an emotional match at Celtic Park providing excellent entertainment. European nights at Celtic are always full of passion, with the electric atmosphere providing Brendan Rodgers’ side with the belief that they could potentially snatch...

Plenty of eyes have turned to Germany U21 international and FC Köln academy product Jonas Urbig following his €7m move to Bundesliga giants FC Bayern. On his arrival at Bayern, Urbig has been coined the ‘heir apparent’ to Manuel Neuer, while the 21-year-old was drawing comparisons to Barcelona’s Marc-André Ter...

At 0.77 xGA P90, Bayern Munich have arguably been Europe’s top defensive side in 2024/25. That's really where this article started. Initially, this Bayern Munich press was an opportunity for study and self-improvement. After watching the press from organised starting positions, other ideas emerged. While Bayern is still one of...

The 2024/25 edition of the UEFA Youth League is currently underway. The group stage (League Phase) ended on December 11, 2024.  During this season's league phase, numerous players showed their skills and talents during very competitive games between the best European teams in the footballing scene. These players have been...

FC Bayern paid €53m to sign Michael Olise from Crystal Palace this past summer. In the current football transfer market, that outlay is already looking like a bargain for the Bavarian giants. The attacker, who’s currently valued at €65m by Transfermarkt, has made 22 appearances for Bayern at this point...

FC Bayern have started their new era under Vincent Kompany as well as anybody can—unbeaten after 10 games and top of the table, largely because of their clinical performance in front of the goal.  Kompany’s men have scored 33 goals with an xG of just 24.24 — an overperformance of...

FC Bayern have started their new era under Vincent Kompany as well as anybody can—unbeaten after 10 games and top of the table, largely because of their clinical performance in front of the goal.  Kompany’s men have scored 33 goals with an xG of just 24.24 — an overperformance of...

Another exciting chapter of Der Klassiker will take place on 30 November 2024, when Borussia Dortmund will play Bayern Munich at Signal Iduna Park in the Bundesliga. With two of the Bundesliga's top scorers, Harry Kane and Serhou Guirassy, going head to head, this game is set to be dramatic, with...

Recruitment strategies vary a lot from club to club and league to league. Aspects like financial resources, league competition, club philosophy, and ambitions all affect football clubs' youth recruitment strategies. This data analysis looks closely at why each club is doing what it is doing, how these strategies fit in...

FC Barcelona hosted FC Bayern on matchday three of the UEFA Champions League. Both teams, known for their aggressive and high-risk pressing styles, were set to deliver one of the most eventful evenings of football in a long time. Our tactical analysis of the match offers analysis and insight into...