Pep, Tic-Tac-Toe and Bayern's Defensive Frailties Against Madrid

Bayern were not looking for the win. As the away team, your main goal is to get an AWAY GOAL. As Bayern started and refused to give the ball to Madrid, their intention was to get that goal, and move on from there. But the problem with the tic-tac-toe system came to the surface. Madrid sat deep and Bayern dominated the possession. All it took were two incisive passes, and Madrid scored.

I would have thought Bayern would have started to play with more urgency and use less passes. But as Ancelotti said, the slower build-up actually suited Madrid as they were comfortable in the sweeping away of Bayern attacks. I don't know why Pep did not move Bart Simpson to right-back sooner and bring on Muller....again, more sooner. And you all saw how close Muller was to delivering the equalizer.

Madrid are NOT a great defensive team. Dortmund proved that by the ease in which they cut through them. But these guys are now used to the tic-tac-toe system. It took a DEFENDER to score a header when Madrid played Barcelona. That's because Pepe and Ramos just know what balls will be played and the runs made, so they can sweep it away. The system is just far too slow and laboured. Beckenbauer called the Bayern display "toothless". Ya...or gumless.

Then you have that defence. Every time Madrid attacked, they looked like scoring. Pep had no answer to the way in which Ancelotti spread the pitch and used the space. I thought Bayern would have defended much better, as their positioning is normally really good. But Madrid brought their A-Game and Bayern got lucky.

A 2-0 scoreline and the tie would have been as done as eggs. But Bayern and Pep must be SUPER relieved. Okay, no away-goal but they are only one goal behind and go back to Munich knowing they CAN and HAVE beaten Madrid there before. But just don't win 2-1 as that send y'all out.....

Pep, you need to QUICKEN up the play bro.....


HH
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