A first half like FC Schalke 04, then five goals after the break: FC Bayern München stay patient and FK Bodø/Glimt finally crack.
The numbers
| FC Bayern München | FK Bodø/Glimt | |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 66% | 34% |
| Shots | 25 | 3 |
| xG | 2.61 | 0.3 |
| Touches in opp. box | 36 | 7 |
Result the chances deserved: FC Bayern München 87% / 11% / FK Bodø/Glimt 3% (Poisson).
Starting line-ups
FC Bayern München (4-2-3-1): Neuer, Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Davies, Kimmich, Pavlović, Olise, Musiala, Luis Díaz, Kane.
FK Bodø/Glimt (4-3-3): Haikin, Sjøvold, Nielsen, Bjørtuft, Bjørkan, Berg, Kitolano, Fet, Auklend, Helmersen, Blomberg.
FK Bodø/Glimt subs: Lund (46', Haikin, injured), Hauge (65', Fet), Saltnes (71', Kitolano, injured in a collision), Määttä & Brynhildsen (80'). Red card: Bjørtuft (87', last-man foul on Olise). Yellow card: Fet (58').
Line-ups: we follow FotMob (Laimer at right-back, Kimmich and Pavlović in midfield). Bundesliga.com's ticker has Kimmich at right-back and Laimer in midfield; Kimmich did cross from the right for Díaz's early header. Bodø/Glimt were listed as a 4-3-3 but defended in "a loose 5-4-1" (Bulinews).
Numbers: xG, shots and box touches from FotMob. Bundesliga.com's ticker counts 14 Bayern shots, six on target; The Football Xtra has 25 shots, 11 on target, and 93% pass accuracy. All sources agree Bodø/Glimt did not have a shot on target.
Key moments, move by move
- Straight after the restart, FC Bayern München pass their way to the edge of the box and Kane shoots.
- The shot is blocked and the ball bounces up on the right side of the area.
- Musiala hits a half-volley that goes through the gloves of Lund, on for the injured Haikin.
- Olise is fouled on a run down the right and takes the free kick himself.
- He whips it in towards the six-yard box.
- Kane gets free and glances a header past Lund.
- FC Bayern München take a corner from the right.
- The defence only half-clears it towards the edge of the box.
- Davies meets it first time with a half-volley from about 17 metres into the bottom corner.
- Karl, on for Díaz three minutes earlier, finds Olise in the number 10 position.
- Olise has space about 25 yards out.
- He curls it into the top left corner.
- Down to ten men, the visitors try to play it back towards their goalkeeper.
- The back-pass is left short just outside the box.
- Olise pounces and curls it into the same top left corner.
Patience against a packed 5-4-1, then a second-half flood
- FK Bodø/Glimt packed the middle. Listed as a 4-3-3, they defended in "a loose 5-4-1" (Bulinews). FC Bayern München had 74% of the ball midway through the first half but went in at 0–0: Díaz headed a Kimmich cross over (5'), Kimmich hit the post from distance (35') and Haikin saved from Musiala and Kimmich.
- Same plan after the break. Kompany said the first half "was a bit similar to Schalke. We had to stay patient." Olise: "He just said to keep playing like we did." The difference from FC Schalke 04: Kane, Olise and Musiala all started, and Musiala scored 77 seconds after the restart, against a replacement goalkeeper.
- Two goals from dead balls. Olise's free kick for Kane's header (61') and Davies's half-volley after a half-cleared corner (77') killed the game. Against a deep block, set pieces and second balls are where the space is.
- Nothing at the other end. FK Bodø/Glimt had three shots, none on target, 0.30 xG and seven touches in FC Bayern München's box (FotMob). Olise's two late curlers from the edge came as they tired and then went down to ten men.
Recreate it in FM26
Kompany's patient 4-2-3-1 against a deep block
| Pos | Player | In Possession | Out of Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Neuer | Ball-Playing Goalkeeper | Sweeper Keeper |
| RB | Laimer | Inside Full-Back | Pressing Full-Back |
| RCB | Upamecano | Ball-Playing Centre-Back | Stopping Centre-Back |
| LCB | Tah | Ball-Playing Centre-Back | Covering Centre-Back |
| LB | Davies | Full-Back | Pressing Full-Back |
| RDM | Kimmich | Deep-Lying Playmaker | Pressing Defensive Midfielder |
| LDM | Pavlović | Defensive Midfielder | Screening Defensive Midfielder |
| RW | Olise | Inside Winger | Winger |
| AM | Musiala | Advanced Playmaker | Attacking Midfielder |
| LW | Luis Díaz | Inside Forward | Winger |
| ST | Kane | Centre Forward | Centre Forward |
Team instructions
In Possession
- Passing DirectnessShorter
- Attacking TransitionPatient Build-Up
- PatienceWork Ball Into Box
- Build-Up StrategyPlay Through Press
- Creative FreedomMore Expressive
Out of Possession
- Line of EngagementHigh Press
- Defensive LineHigher
- Defensive TransitionCounter-Press
- Trigger PressMore Often
The idea: Keep the ball, keep the opponent pinned in, and wait for a gap to open. It needs a right winger who creates and scores from the edge of the box, and a number 10 who finds pockets in a crowded midfield.
What FM26 can't copy: FM26 won't reproduce the half-time goalkeeper change that made the breakthrough easier.
Our reading of this match in FM26 terms, not an exported tactic file. Role names as in FM26.
What if? Replay it with a different plan
Our best alternative plan: Formation 3-4-2-1, Karl on at 60' not 80' (for Díaz). A back three to push Laimer and Davies high against the 5-4-1, and Karl on earlier for the left side. Probably a goal sooner, the same result. It moves FC Bayern München's win chance from 87% to 88% (xG 2.61–0.30 becomes 2.79–0.35). Try your own changes to formation, pressing, approach and substitutions.
The game-changer FC Bayern München needed
Lennart Karl
FC Bayern München's problem was the first half: 74% of the ball, a post, and no goal against a packed block. Karl receives between the lines and passes forward quickly, which is exactly what set up Olise's 4–0. On the left for Díaz, he gives the block two left-footed creators to worry about instead of one.
Rayan Cherki
Against a 5-4-1, the spaces are tiny and the goalkeeper was having a good night. Cherki receives in the tightest pockets, turns, and shoots or passes with either foot. He would give FC Bayern München one more way through before half-time, when Musiala was the only player finding those gaps.
What the analysts said
“The first half was a bit similar to Schalke. We had to stay patient. We didn't have many chances, but still had moments where we could've scored a couple of goals.”Vincent Kompany (via Bavarian Football Works/Yahoo)
“He just said to keep playing like we did. It would open up and we would take our chances. We did.”Michael Olise on Kompany's half-time message (Goal)
“We had to be patient, but I thought we were also better in the first half; their goalkeeper made some good saves.”Harry Kane (via Bavarian Football Works/Yahoo)
“We're a threat to any team.”Harry Kane (beIN Sports)
The same problem as at FC Schalke 04, solved by the best players starting.
Five days after the 0–0 at FC Schalke 04, FC Bayern München faced another deep block and had another goalless first half. Kompany said so himself. The difference was who was on the pitch. Kane, Olise and Musiala started this time, and all three scored or set up a goal. The chances came from the same patient passing. This time the players on the end of them were the best finishers in the squad.
The scoreline flatters the finishing a little. The xG was 2.61, and FC Bayern München scored five. Olise's two curlers from 25 yards are the kind of shot that usually misses, and the last one came after a sloppy back-pass against ten men. Two of the other goals came from a free kick and a corner. The honest reading: a clear, deserved win, worth about three goals on the chances, with the last two added once FK Bodø/Glimt had given up.
The part that will matter in bigger games is the defending. FK Bodø/Glimt came to Munich as Norwegian champions and had three shots, none on target, and 0.30 xG. Across the two games against deep blocks, FC Schalke 04 and Bodø/Glimt, FC Bayern München allowed 0.51 xG in total. The counter-press is doing its job, and that holds up better against good sides than a hot streak of 25-yard curlers.