On paper, Bayern Munich has ended its mini post-World Cup crisis. The Rekordmeister beat Mainz midweek 4-0 in the DFB Pokal and, more importantly, ended their three games in a row 1-1 draw series with a 4-2 victory over Wolfsburg.
On the surface, the results crisis is over. But the triumph over Wolfsburg also showed plenty of shortcomings that a more effective opponent might have better explored. According to Bundesliga.com, Wolfsburg led the xG 2.71 to 0.68.
Not surprisingly, Bayern head coach Julian Nagelsmann agreed that his side might have been a bit lucky on Sunday night. “The win was crucial,” Nagelsmann said to the media after the game. “We scored three goals from the first three chances, which made it easier for us.”
Those three goals by Kingsley Coman (9’ and 14’) and Thomas Müller (19’) seemed to have killed the game off early, but a late first-half goal by Jakub Kaminski opened the door for Wolfsburg. Then in the 54th minute, Joshua Kimmich was sent off with a second yellow card.
“We were too relaxed after the 3-0 and allowed Wolfsburg back into the game,” Nagelsmann said. It was only thanks to a piece of individual magic by Jamal Musiala in the 73rd minute that Bayern was finally able to seal the game/ Jamal’s goal was crucial,” Nagelsmann said. “We take the three points and move forward.”
But even after that fourth goal by Bayern, Wolfsburg did not go away. The Wolves scored a second in the 81st minute when Mattias Svanberg finally converted one of his many chances. Yannick Gerhardt then scored a third just moments later, but VAR intervened, taking away any hope of a Wolfsburg comeback.
The result means that Bayern, for now, will remain top of the table. One point ahead of Union Berlin, three points ahead of Dortmund, four points ahead of Leipzig, and five points ahead of Frankfurt. All those sides, however, remain in the title challenge.
Furthermore, those sides will also have taken note that this Bayern side is beatable. There were several passages in play where a more effective Wolfsburg side could have scored. The club, coached by former Bayern boss Niko Kovac also gifted the first two goals, digging themselves into an impossible hole.
“Bayern scored three goals from their first two shots, because Kingsley’s was a cross not a shot,” Kovac said after the game to the meida. “I think we were very unlucky to lose today. Their individual quality made the difference.”
Bayern, of course, will see it differently. Nagelsmann and the club bosses will see this as a typical Bayern-like efficient performance. They will also stress that this win was necessary in a week in which captain and currently injured goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer gave a controversial double interview with The Athletic and Süddeutsche Zeitung.
In that interview, Neuer heavily criticized the Bayern bosses for firing his goalkeeper coach Toni Tapalovic. Although the statements, as often the case in the media cauldron surrounding the record champions, were overblown, a defeat or draw against Wolfsburg would have certainly opened the floodgates for a media circus. But instead, the result gives everyone at the Säbener Straße some time to calm things down.
But what does the result mean for the title race? As is always the case, the truth will be somewhere in the middle when it comes to assessing this result. Bayern will happily take those three points and declare themselves back in form. Opponents will take note that Bayern can still win lucky games. But secretly, they will sense there is a chance to take the Bundesliga title this season.
Manuel Veth is the host of the Bundesliga Gegenpressing Podcast and the Area Manager USA at Transfermarkt. He has also been published in the Guardian, Newsweek, Howler, Pro Soccer USA, and several other outlets. Follow him on Twitter: @ManuelVeth
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