With patience and a plan: how Bayern unpicked Union's defensive block

It didn’t take Vincent Kompany long to pinpoint the main takeaway of the afternoon. “It’s one of our greatest strengths that different players stand out in attack again and again,” the FC Bayern head coach said after the final whistle. The 4-0 victory over Union Berlin was the perfect stage for it. Alongside Michael Olise and Harry Kane, two-goal Serge Gnabry played a leading role in the home victory. After starting the last two matches on the bench, the forward showed tremendous energy, deep runs and two clinical finishes – a performance that didn’t only highlight his importance for Munich’s attacking unit but also justified his coach’s trust in him.

It was a display that looks impressive on paper too. 31 shots on goal, almost total control over 90 minutes and 97 goals this Bundesliga campaign: the German record champions head into the international break with a lot of momentum. It was no coincidence that Union, of all clubs, were a useful yardstick. The men from the capital had presented Bayern with tricky challenges twice this season and relied on a compact back five, sitting deep. Kompany’s men didn’t allow themselves to get impatient, dominating proceedings from the off but staying calm. They let the ball do the work, the positioning and automatisms were clear – but it took some time until the patience was rewarded in the form of goals.

Bayern in control from the start

The early stages of the match were all about this control. Kane only just missed Olise’s chip in the six-yard box (9’) before Lennart Karl tested Union keeper Frederik Rønnow from 15 yards (16’) and Gnabry cut inside from the left and fired just wide of the far post (21’). Union sporadically tried to relieve the pressure by going on the attack but were often stopped in midfield. Bayern kept the away side penned into their own box for large spells, delivered a pass rate of 90 percent and had twelve corners to Union’s one without breaking through the defensive block.

A key factor was their build-up play that kept their opponents on the move. Joshua Kimmich dropped in between the centre-backs, with full-backs Josip Stanišić and Konrad Laimer moving into the centre again and again just to make deep runs the next moment. Leon Goretzka and Karl were in the half-spaces, with Kane dropping into the holding midfield role from time to time to collect the ball and open up play with diagonal passes. Bayern’s positional flexibility forced Union to react, shift and defend incessantly. “It always looks easy in hindsight, but it was a very focused performance,” stressed sporting director Christoph Freund: “The lads are enjoying football and you can see that.”

Power play before half-time: Olise and Gnabry break the deadlock

The pressure turned into power play before half-time and Karl only hit the post after his fine run in behind (29’). Kane’s free-kick from 20 yards out sailed over (38’) before Olise cut inside from the right and drew a fine save from Rønnow, with Kane firing wide from a tight angle (39’). Stanišić’s low cross evaded Goretzka (42’). In this phase it was unclear whether the frustration would only be growing or there’d be clarity that was ultimately reflected in the result.

Michael Olise played a key role in that. The Frenchman shone with a fine first touch after Goretzka’s pinpoint pass, sidestepped Stanley Nsoki and unleashed a fine curler into the far corner of the net (43’). The next blow soon same when Stanišić laid back for Kimmich, with Rønnow’s clearance via Doekhi’s shoulders finding Gnabry, who made it two with the help of a slight deflection (45’+1). Munich broke the deadlock against Union in a phase when they score strikingly often this season.

Kompany praises two-goal Gnabry

After the restart, Bayern showed the attacking drive that had been missing for large spells. Bayern often got forward down the left, Laimer and Gnabry shining with fine interplay. Union rarely got out of their own half and Kane made it three. “I took the chance that was hardest to convert, but I missed the easier ones – but that’s the life of a striker,” he said after the final whistle. He had sidestepped his opponent and found the far corner of the net after the restart (49’) to score his 31^st goal this Bundesliga campaign – in a season in which he is setting standards across Europe with 48 goals from 40 competitive matches.

Serge Gnabry personified the attack’s different facets on Saturday. He was industrious from the start, made deep runs again and again and crowned his performance with a brace. “I didn’t start in the last two matches, so I probably had a lot of energy,” he explained: “I wanted to turn in a good display and prove myself again. Fortunately, I was able to do that today.” Olise saw a shot blocked and it fell to Gnabry, who powered home from close distance (67’). Kompany stressed his importance for the team at the press conference: “I’m really happy for Serge because he’s one of the players who tend to get underestimated. In terms of talent and quality, there’s very little difference between him and our other lads up front. He’s a crucial player for us, not only on the pitch but also in the dressing room.”

Attacking power, defensive stability

Bayern kept probing – Olise’s header from an Upamecano cross was too close to Rønnow (53’), Karl was through on goal but saw his effort saved (58), Olise hit the post (78’) and Kane had only Rønnow to beat but put it wide (89’) – and were solid at the back. Most of Union’s counters were stifled in midfield, with chances for the visitors few and far between. Only sub and ex-FCB man Woo-yeong Jeong drew a save from Urbig (77’). The final 4-0 scoreline and the expected goals value of 4.06 reflected a match in which Bayern’s control and determination went hand in hand.

The closing stages showed that not only the established stars feel at home in this structure. 18-year-old Lennart Karl boldly played between the lines and took shots again and again. Maycon Cardozo (17) and Erblin Osmani (16), who made his pro debut, were subbed on, slotted in seamlessly and made the fans want more. “The longer we play together, the better we know one another,” Gnabry commented on the atmosphere: “Under our coach, who’s been here for one and a half, almost two years now, the principles have become clearer and clearer. Everybody knows exactly what’s expected of them in their position. That’s why it works so well, no matter the rotation.”

97 goals and momentum ahead of final phase

In the end, it was a day that went well in many respects. “We turned in a really good display: we created a lot of chances and allowed little,” sporting director Freund put it in a nutshell: “It’s crucial to head into the international break in high spirits. We absolutely wanted to achieve that. It’ll really get going in April.” The German record champions boast 97 Bundesliga goals, an unbeaten run of 14 Bundesliga matches against Union and a strong home record ahead of the short break – knowing the upcoming weeks will be decisive for the entire season.

The roadmap is clear: after the international break, Bayern travel to face SC Freiburg (Saturday, 4 April, from 15:30 CEST) and St.Pauli (Saturday, 11 April, 18:30 CEST) in the Bundesliga. They take on Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals (Tuesday, 7 April, 21:00 CEST and Wednesday, 15 April, at 21:00 CEST) – much more than a goal streak is at stake in those matches. But FC Bayern’s 4-0 victory and their 31 shots against a dismantled defensive block say a lot about their goals: they want to keep going with patience and a plan.

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