3 Things We Noticed: SC Paderborn – FC Bayern 0-6 (0-3)

With the away game in Paderborn, FC Bayern had a real challenge to start into the most important months of the season, but succeeded with flying colours. The analysis of a respectable cup quarter-final against an impressive opponent.

Three Things We Noticed

1. Excellent running work

The “Three things we noticed” deserve a little introduction of their own at this point: Of course, all the insights that can be drawn from a cup match at a (good) third division club are to be provided with a small question mark. However, it’s pointless to use the difference between the two leagues difference as a reason not to be able to praise Bayern.

Bayern could have had problems on Tuesday evening. That is to say, if they hadn’t handled Paderborn’s pressing in the first half hour so confidently and calmly. The staggering of East Westphalia was more offensive than that of many Bundesliga clubs, and even if this led to the fact that they played better, Bayern were still able to keep their opponents’ efforts in check in their own half.

Again and again the whole team (!) moved against the ball very well and purposefully and managed to leave little room for counterattack. The defensive was only a part of the whole, especially Coman and Müller (until his replacement) moved skillfully and were not bound to the sidelines as was often the case in the last games.

This agility and running ability of the team as a whole clearly bears the handwriting of Jupp Heynckes and hinted that Bayern could play their strengths even better against slightly more offensive opponents. This gives hope for the rest of the season, especially in the Champions League.

2. Arguments for the starting XI

Slowly but surely full fitness is back at FC Bayern – and thus more competition. The game against SC Paderborn has given the current “A-Team” a certain advantage – team tactical, as shown in point 1, but also individually.

Niklas Süle, for example, cut a good figure next to Mats Hummels. Süles great talent is indisputable, in the meantime you can see that he was able to train and play alongside the experienced Boateng and Hummels for half a year. It is quite possible that he will remain a regular starter in the Bundesliga at least.

Arturo Vidal was also able to convince as a link between attack and defence: Vidal covered for the five-man chain of Robben, James, Müller (Tolisso), Coman and Lewandowski, which was almost a small reminiscence of Guardiola’s “Lineup of Death”. It will be one of the exciting questions of the next few weeks when Thiago returns: What is Heynckes focusing on? More creativity with James, Müller and the Spaniard or still security with Martínez and Vidal? The Chilean has at least presented his arguments.

In general, the mixture in the Bayern-Elf in the Cup quarter-finals worked very well, and it was quite clear that Jupp Heynckes could see his best team in these eleven men at the moment – which might well be playing against Besiktas Istanbul next week in this line-up.

3. Bundesliga, take a look!

Second half, 0-3 behind, 47th minute: goal kick for FC Bayern. Sven Ulreich waves his arms and sends his people forward? Why? Because a third-league club in an almost hopeless situation sends four players to the Munich penalty area. What follows is another long goal kick and Paderborn winning the ball.

The SC Paderborn played very well on Tuesday evening and deserved many compliments. The East Westphalians were open-minded, visibly had fun playing forward and being creative. It would have taken either a little more luck, more individual class or a more unconcentrated FC Bayern to win this game – or all three factors combined.

What remains to be said: It would have been possible to beat FC Bayern with this concept. And it is to be hoped that 17 Bundesliga coaches will take this game to heart and perhaps learn the following four lessons:

Don’t lie to yourself. Paderborn coach Baumgart had announced this courageous style of playing in the press conference the day before, using the same words as most Bundesliga coaches, who also like to speak of “courage” and “aggressiveness against the ball”. However, this usually ends up in a passive five-man chain and a clear defeat, which you have to talk yourself through.
Train standard situations. Paderborn played offensively, getting free kicks and corners – and with a little bit more luck it could have paid off. Football can be so simple.
Mental change. Paderborn had nothing to lose in the cup quarter-finals – just like every Bundesliga club against FC Bayern. This mentality is something you should be able to convey to your players, especially at home matches against the FCB.
More realism. FC Bayern plays excellently, has the more expensive players and is a household favorite. All well and good, but that doesn’t mean that this team is so outstanding that it dominates every game (as shown over much of this season). You can’t get rid of the feeling that most first division clubs spend more time emphasising the strengths of FC Bayern and not their own. A fatal development, of which neither during the 90 minutes nor before or after, was there anything to be seen in Paderborn.

Even though SC Paderborn has lost its quarter-finals with regard to the result very clearly: Perhaps the Bundesliga was able to gain some insights from the game. It would be desirable.

SC Paderborn – FC Bayern
SC Paderborn	Ratajczak – Boeder, Schonlau,Strohdiek, Herzenbruch – Krauße – Zolinski, Wassey (Tietz), Antwi-Adjej (66. Bertels) – Ritter (74. Klement), Michel
Bench	Zingerle, Collins, Fesser, Yeboah
FC Bayern	Ulreich – Kimmich, Süle, Hummels, Alaba – Vidal – Robben, Müller (32. Tolisso), James (67. Rudy), Coman (81. Ribery) – Lewandowski
Bench	Starke, Wagner, Rafinha, Bernat
Goals	0-1 Coman (19.), 0-2 Lewandowski (25.), 0-3 Kimmich (42.), 0-4 Tolisso (55.), 0-5 Robben (86.), 0-6 Robben (88.)
Cards	Yellow: Zolinski / Vidal, Hummels,
Referee	Markus Schmidt (Stuttgart)
Attendance	15,000 (sold out)