Manuel Neuer
How are you supposed to put that without sounding weird? If there’s a Bayern player who starts the season a bit shaky, it’s the captain, who’s never really shaky. Unsuccessful dribbling and goal conceded in the 6-1 win in Frankfurt, bad pass against Wolfsburg. Okay, so that’s the end of this impressive series of bugs.
Benjamin Pavard
Twice overwhelmed by Wolfsburg attacks at the beginning, the opponent seemed to have chosen the right side of Munich defense for his counterattack. However, there is a rumor this season that there is a weak point due to Pavard’s strong early form. Was also dangerous up front against Wolfsburg as in Frankfurt and in the Supercup in Leipzig (one goal each), hit the crossbar with his head – and has not yet given Julian Nagelsmann any reason to bring Noussair Mazraoui, who is committed to the right back.
Dayot Upamecano
Another Munich defender who refuses to give up his place for access. Matthijs de Ligt was on the bench for 90 minutes. And Upamecano, recently praised by Nagelsmann, defended solidly again.
Lucas Hernandez
Saw an early yellow card 15 minutes after a foul on Patrick Wimmer, and you thought for a moment: This could perhaps be a typical Hernández game in which he defends with a knife between his teeth and is substituted early to be on the safe side. But Hernández is also in impressive form. He played through.
Alphonso Davies
Involved in all dangerous offensive actions in the first half, really all of them: extended the ball to his own post early on. After a change from Nagelsmann, he played even more consistently than usual as a wing attacker, in order to increasingly pull apart the Wolfsburg defense, which was blocking the middle like poisonous green plasticine. Promptly started dribbling, sprinting and cleverly fitting 1:0 and 2:0.
Joshua Kimmich
This season has the nice task of sending the Munich attackers, i.e. the “arrows from everywhere” (Domenico Tedesco), towards the goal with his passes. Sometimes chipped, sometimes with pressure, sometimes as a volley ball. Or, as against Wolfsburg, with a shot that turns into an assist (see: Thomas Müller).
Marcel Sabitzer
Is at Kimmich’s side as a stand-in for the injured Leon Goretzka and still looks like a double of the player named Sabitzer from last season, who hardly dared to make risky passes. Again won many tackles against Wolfsburg, had three shots on target and showed tactical variability when he covered the left flank for Davies.
Thomas Müller
Second game of the season, second typical Müller action. This time not like against Frankfurt with a belly landing when hitting the post, but with the right step into a Kimmich shot – Müller’s first goal of the season after preparing three times in Frankfurt. Incidentally, this time he also helped prepare Musiala’s first goal.
Jamal Musiala
It was only ten minutes before his first dance with the ball past various overwhelmed Wolfsburg players, this time on the outside line for the increased difficulty. And it was just a little over half an hour before he scored his third goal of the season: he got up again in the middle of falling, whichever way you can do it, controlled the ball, shot it untenably into the corner. Also: turns, hack tricks, special applause when he is substituted. Musiala, 19, is probably Germany’s most flexible soccer player.
Serge Gnabry
Gnabry has already played excellently in the new system without Robert Lewandowski in the past few weeks. A little less conspicuous this time, replaced by Leroy Sané at the break.
Sadio Mane
Waited very politely, hands clasped behind his back, as minutes were checked to see if he had scored his second goal of the season to make it 3-0. Didn’t count because preparer Müller is said to have been offside. But Mané still had fun in his second Bundesliga game against the next defense, which tended to be overwhelmed. Could have scored in the first half, but hit a hook too many. Maybe out of politeness.
substitute
Leroy Sane came for Gnabry in the second half and was probably able to show a little too little to be entitled to a starting eleven place in the near future. Later came too Mathy’s phone and Ryan Gravenberch.