:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72982815/1855949465.0.jpg "Wolfsburg 1-2 Bayern Munich: Initial reactions and observations")
Bayern cut it way closer than it needed to be.
Initial reactions and observations
- Bayern Munich were significantly better than Wolfsburg in the first half and then just barely even with them in the second. It’s like Tuchel gave his team a tranquilizer at halftime. Where was the intensity? The confidence? The pressure? Such a dismal way to end the year when the game was shaping up to be such a good one in the 1st 40 minutes.
- Jamal Musiala is back to dribbling and beating his man. Moving him to the wing was the right move — now he needs to stay there.
- Benching Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich does not seem to be the silver bullet the midfield needed. Pavlović remains a quality player with a lot of potential, but fans have to realize that much of the midfield’s strengths and weaknesses stem from the system itself.
- Niko Kovac can coach a decent defensive team, but his side seems to just give up when chasing. Even when they had Bayern on the ropes, they simply couldn’t capitalize.
- Thomas Muller. Nuff’ said.
Full time: Bayern Munich win 2-1.
90’+3’ — Sub: Choupo is on for Musiala.
77’ — Davies is off the pitch injured, Bayern Munich are down to ten men.
63’ — Sub: Thomas Müller is subbed off for Matthijs de Ligt, who returns from injury.
45’ — The second half is underway.
Halftime: Bayern Munich lead 2-1.
45’+1’ — Goal. Maxi Arnold gets one back.
42’ — GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL! Harry Kane makes it 2-0! Another assist from Müller!
33’ — GOOOOOOOOOOAL! Musiala makes it 1-0 via a cross from Thomas Müller!
Kickoff: We’re underway! For the last time in 2023!
One hour until kickoff: We have lineups! Looks like Thomas Tuchel has opted for zero changes as Bayern Munich line up in the same 4-4-2 with Harry Kane and Thomas Müller up top, with Aleksandar Pavlović and Guerreiro in midfield. Konrad Laimer starts at right-back in the place of the injured Noussair Mazraoui — Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka miss the game with illness.
With the final game of 2023 upon us, Bayern Munich will look to close out a tumultuous year with a win. As Bayer Leverkusen shows no signs of slowing down, Thomas Tuchel needs his team to collect every single point available in order to keep pace.
As for the players themselves — Harry Kane is chasing the title of 2023 top scorer. This is his last chance to get a few goals between him and the likes of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. To get the goals he needs, he will rely on the support of his teammates — Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sané and Thomas Müller among them. Will it come together like it did against Stuttgart?
It’s Bayern time.
While you’re waiting for the game, why not check out our preview podcast! Listen to it below or on Spotify.
Match Info
Location: VW Arena, Wolfsburg, Germany
Time: 8:30 pm local time, 2:30 pm EST
TV/streaming: ESPN+, Find Your Country
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Hasibur Rahaman is a passionate sports journalist. He covers everything from cricket to field hockey, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis of sporting events, both within India and on the international stage.
