Leverkusen’s line-up against FC Bayern seems relatively clear. But the personality of Amine Adli is an extremely difficult one: a nomination of Bayern Schreck could add a decisive element to the Werkself’s game – but also play into the hands of Munich coach Thomas Tuchel.
Could become a key figure in the summit meeting with FC Bayern: Amine Adli. IMAGO/Laci Perenyi
Xabi Alonso’s first eleven for the top game should have been decided – except for one personality. But it has it all. Leverkusen’s coach’s decision about the use of Amine Adli could be of the utmost tactical importance, as he was used as a joker after his return from the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday in the Cup quarter-final against Stuttgart (3-2), not only because of his goal to make it 2: 2 was important.
The deep runs of the fast offensive player could also be a key element against FC Bayern. Munich’s game against Werder Bremen (0-1) proved how simple it is to become a goal threat against the record champions’ advanced defense: quickly played, long passes to the front between the Munich central defenders; There the ball was then extended into the path of a Werder attacker – and the Bayern defense was repeatedly undermined.
Who are the X Factors? Everything about the top game Bayer against Bayern (with Alex Schlüter)
Kane, Xhaka, Musiala, Wirtz, Alonso, Tuchel. The top game between Bayer Leverkusen and FC Bayern is coming up – and with it the championship decision? Podcast colleague Alex Schlüter from the podcast “kicker meets DAZN” analyzes both teams.
02/09/24 – 3:33 p.m. 16:34 minutes
A simple pattern that the league leaders could also use as a variant on Saturday (6.30 p.m., LIVE! on kicker). Without the former French U-21 international Adli, who now storms for Morocco, Bayer would be missing this extremely explosive drive in depth in the front line.
Coach Xabi Alonso has enough candidates for a breather in the attack of his 3-4-3. Jonas Hofmann played his worst game for Bayer 04 on the half-right against Stuttgart, and center forward Patrik Schick is also visibly sagging, is still waiting for his first goal in 2024 and is currently carrying his head a little lower.
Hofmann? Chic? Adli?
So how does Xabi Alonso decide? If he does without Hofmann, he basically deprives the Leverkusen Tiki-Taka of a very intelligent switching station, which in top form often initiates or maintains many processes via the half-right ten-man area. “I have no doubts about Jonas. We need the best Jonas. He is very, very important for us,” said Xabi Alonso on Friday. If Bayer wanted to play the game against Bayern itself – and that is Leverkusen’s self-image – the 31-year-old Hofmann, if he is in good form, would be clearly missing. Because Adli acts more as a striker than as a designer.
If the coach foregoes Schick, Bayer would be missing the target player at the top and therefore also the player who can secure the ball or extend it deep like Bremen did. But the variant without Schick and therefore without a real center forward also involves another risk that could lie in Munich’s approach to the game.
If Tuchel relies on a dominant performance in Leverkusen with a lot of possession of the ball and high pressing, as Stuttgart did in an outstanding tactical manner on Tuesday, counterattack player Adli would be the right choice as a ninth player. Just remember Leverkusen’s 2-1 win last season, when the Bayern terror won both penalties that led to victory.
But Adli’s nomination at the top could also backfire and play into Tuchel’s match plan if the Bayern coach decides to leave the initiative and a lot of possession to the opponent, as in the home league game against VfB Stuttgart Then, like the Swabians in their 3-0 win in mid-December, they countered coldly.
Bayern’s switching game is not criticized – Bayer is more vulnerable due to Kossounou’s absence
Unlike many other elements in Tuchel’s team, Munich’s switching game is not criticized; in fact, it represents a distinct strength. Leroy Sané’s top speed and Jamal Musiala’s ability to make the final pass are qualities that can pose massive problems for Bayer’s defense.
Leverkusen only conceded its first counterattack goal on matchday 18 in a 3-2 win in Leipzig, but since the beginning of the year the league leaders have been so strong defensively in the absence of central defender Odilon Kossounou (Ivory Coast), who is still in action at the Africa Cup. definitely more susceptible to quick switching games from the opponent. Ultimately, Kossounou’s combination of duel strength and top speed often served as a stop sign for opponents’ counterattacks.
If Tuchel uses this counterattack approach like he did against Stuttgart, Bayer 04 would win the game against a deep-lying opponent, but without their own wall player in and around the opponent’s penalty area. This could lead to Xabi Alonso’s team playing a lot around Bayern’s box but little into it. In conjunction with their own idea of countering, a promising combination for the Munich team.
So what Munich match plan do Xabi Alonso and his assistant coach Marcel Daum anticipate for the league summit? Where to go with Adli? Half-right? To the nine? Or initially back on the substitutes bench? The latter would be typical for Leverkusen’s head coach, who would once again demonstrate his confidence in his own strengths. According to the motto: We will play our game against Bayern too.
By the way: In the 2-1 win in March 2023, due to the absence of Schick, Xabi Alonso played with Florian Wirtz as the false nine and Adli on the half left. But back then, Leverkusen’s preferred style was still the switching game and not dominant possession of the ball.
2024-02-09 22:01:52
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