In a match where the focus was on finishing in the top four instead of the league title, Bayern Munich hosted FC Köln in a nervy affair.
The Bavarians peppered the Köln goal with many shots but only Raphaël Guerreiro’s wonderstrike at the 65th minute and Thomas Müller’s finisher managed to count.
Jersey Swap: Marvin SchwäbeThe Köln goalkeeper made one spectacular save after another as Bayern struggled to penetrate a stout Billy Goat defense.
Continuously on the attack and going for goal as much as he can, the young Frenchman was unfortunate enough not to get a goal today because he deserved one.
Meister of the Match: Raphaël GuerreiroThe Portuguese left back was on a machine against relegation threatened Köln.
In a match where the focus was on finishing in the top four instead of the league title, Bayern Munich hosted FC Köln in a nervy affair. The Bavarians peppered the Köln goal with many shots but only Raphaël Guerreiro’s wonderstrike at the 65th minute and Thomas Müller’s finisher managed to count. Which players were notable performers today?
Jersey Swap: Marvin Schwäbe
The Köln goalkeeper made one spectacular save after another as Bayern struggled to penetrate a stout Billy Goat defense. If Bayern somehow made it past that, they had to come across Schwäbe who is doing his best “Yann Sommer against Bayern” impression.
Honorable Mention: the goalpost
Singlehandedly kept out two Bayern shots that would have been surefire goals
Der Kaiser: Noussair Mazraoui
With Köln’s aerial balls constantly getting the better of Eric Dier and Matthijs de Ligt and Sven Ulreich peppered by the subsequent shots, Mazraoui putting in a shift. That he played so well despite being in Thomas Tuchel’s doghouse shows how good a player he is. The Moroccan is not adverse to playing left-back, having done so at international level, and his performance today has proved his value.
Der Fußballgott: Thomas Müller
Although his overall performance has undergone a significant decline, Müller’s experience and football IQ came to the fore once again. Apart from scoring a late goal to seal the deal for Bayern. The only reason he hasn’t been as effective was because he and Harry Kane were running into each other’s spaces.
Der Bomber: Mathys Tel
On a day where Bayern found chances hard to come by, Tel was one of the positive outlets. Continuously on the attack and going for goal as much as he can, the young Frenchman was unfortunate enough not to get a goal today because he deserved one. Compared to the other wingers, Tel was standout.
Meister of the Match: Raphaël Guerreiro
The Portuguese left back was on a machine against relegation threatened Köln. Some of his highlights include being press resistant in deep areas, aiding in build-up through the left half-space (exchanging with Tel and Mazraoui), pressing and joining Kane as the first line of bodies, hanging on the edge of the box which is opening space between the lines for Kane, Tel and Müller to operate in, and making late runs from those positions causing the disruptions that give Kane his chances to score (such a shame that he hasn’t capitalized on them).
Oh, and he scored the winning goal which is why gets MotM for this match. The win helps Bayern stay afloat as they try to finish in the top four.
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