Manuel Neuer
Augsburg? Wasn’t there something? Has already lost a few games against this club, for example in the first half of the season (1:2). Maybe that’s why he wore the signal color orange, a jersey as a wake-up call, so to speak. But the warnings fizzled out: Saw several waves from Augsburg rolling towards his goal and was asked to play as a teammate, which he at least skillfully solved. Didn’t have to defend a ball heroically and should still come to the conclusion that these Augsburgers are a pretty unpleasant opponent.
Benjamin Pavard
As a dogged duel, maybe just the right thing in a game against the eternal workers from Augsburg. Failed the hardest of all workers in a shot attempt: Nicklas Dorsch. Looked for the way forward, combined with and tilled the right lane. Breathed new life into the good old flat cross ball, which he tried several times from the right. Also unpacked the chipped entry – it didn’t help. All too imprecise.
Dayot Upamecano
Is still at the center of those debates revolving around the search for a real “defense chief” at Bayern. If the requirement for such a boss is to extinguish fires, then he did a good job against Andre Hahn, who started sprinting alone: just tipped the ball off Augsburg’s foot. Spent a busy afternoon, constantly having to intervene and fought his way into this game.
Tanguy Nianzou
A real phenomenon in the air, but he is not yet a defense chief, but at best a boss. Can anything still happen at just 19 if he turns off small and larger recklessness, like that in the 12th minute: he introduced himself with a fatal bad pass that almost meant 0: 1 (see Upamecano). Later collided violently with Zeqiri when he was late again and saw yellow. It wasn’t a proven lucky day for him. Too erratic, too little clarity in the game structure.
Omar Richards
Was allowed to play on the left for Alphonso Davies, who was given a rest period after his comeback in Villarreal. Soon proved he wasn’t a second turbo guy like Davies, but more of a solid stand-in. He still has room for improvement in speed and technique – which repeatedly got him into trouble in Augsburg’s constant pressing. At least saved against Caligiuri, who, outrageously, appeared alone in the box. Then stepped up and played some clever passes – before he had to give way for Davies.
Joshua Kimmich
Took the realization from Villarreal that Bayern needed a more dominant Kimmich again. But there was no time for sorting and directing, because Augsburg rushed forward like a squadron that cut through the middle. As always, grabbed almost every dead ball, which didn’t always work out to full satisfaction. Then grabbed a rolling ball, marched off and forced FCA keeper Gikiewicz to dive down to turf level with a long-range shot. Started moderately, but then got better and better and banged another decent projectile on the beams.
Leon Goretzka
Took a “small cut” from Villarreal, as coach Julian Nagelsmann called it. He was bleeding profusely after getting hit by an elbow. But if anyone at Bayern can take a black eye, it’s him. A lot on the move in the center, but rarely influential as we know him to be. His long break in winter is still visibly after him – after 57 minutes it was over, this time at least unscathed.
Serge Gnabry
Is currently walking through life with an unclear contractual situation and some fluctuations in performance – which of course always gives reason for speculation. Is he maybe too busy with his future? Used his instinct for a few turns, but at the latest with the 3G bar from FCA (Gikiewicz, Gumny, Gouweleeuw) it was over. Had then gyrated unusually early – he was replaced by Jamal Musiala at halftime. There is still talk of Gnabry’s faltering contract extension.
Thomas Müller
Future? It used to be even better, said Karl Valentin, who is known to have been a revenant of Müller Thomas. Or vice versa, anthropologists have yet to research that. Crept along the typical Müller paths across the square, which no scientist has yet been able to fathom. But none of these hidden paths led him to his goal. Still, it wouldn’t have surprised you if he’d hit someone else’s knee or buttocks.
Leroy Sane
Actually plays a very good season, but in Villarreal of all places he fell victim to Nagelsmann’s tactical castling (he preferred to rely on the sprinters Coman and Gnabry). Tried to play culture in the offensive center, which required quite a bit of skill against these Augsburgers. Didn’t really enjoy this dogged game, dived more and more and finally disappeared completely – in the dressing room when he was substituted.
Robert Lewandowski
No need to fear tactical castling unless heaven crashes down on earth sometime. But before that happens, he still scores 40 goals a season for a few years. Got in a bad mood in the first half because hardly a ball reached him. With a free kick then with an unusually blunt blow into the Augsburg leg labyrinth and with a steep pass scene with his toe in the face of FCA keeper Gikiewicz. As in Villarreal, he only had a few moments, but as it is with him: Once he was there with his head and got the hand penalty against Oxford. Transformed himself, the bad mood was passé.
substitute
Jamal Musiala was allowed to replace Gnabry at the break, Nagelsmann apparently expected more depth in the Bayern center and got it. With the 19-year-old, the Munich offensive became more dominant, a low shot from him missed the goal by a few foot lengths. As a little later too Alphonso Davies (fast-paced as ever; for Richards) and Marcel Sabitzer (hesitantly as so often; for Goretzka) came in, the starting line-up was shaken up. Kingsley Coman came and aimed just wide with the right and then in the middle of Gikiewicz – somehow representative of a tough afternoon.