Game in a sentence
A match that could have easily been 2-2 within the first half an hour saw Basel and Bayern slow the pace to try to expose each other’s weaknesses which in the end resulted in the hosts capitalising on poor defensive marking to upset one of Europe’s very best.
Observations
- Both sides wasted little time attacking. This match was explosive from the get go with six clear cut scoring chances before the 20 minute mark. Basel hit the woodwork twice.
- An anxious Basel allowed Bayern plenty of time on the ball in midfield before clogging up the box hoping to counter attack with pace, which they did well on several occassions in the first half.
- Bayern striker Mario Gomez, whose superb goal scoring record of 65 in 67 matches wouldn’t have taken a hit if he had better struck Rafinha’s brilliant cross placed right on his forehead, would have given the visitors a not so deserved one goal advantage heading into halftime.
- Franck Ribery doesn’t have the same pep and intimidation factor that he used to, and did little in his 70 minutes on the pitch before being subbed off for the currently out of form Thomas Müller.
- Both Jupp Heynckes and Heiko Vogel will have a lot to pick apart from their clubs’ defensive displays when watching tapes of this match.
- Arjen Robben is highly underrated as one of the most dramatic and embellishing players in the game.
- Bayern pelted former Swiss U21 captain Yann Sommer in the Basel goal, and the now 23 year old made some incredible stops facing 7 strong attempts.
- With four minutes to play, substitute Valentin Stocker broke away from his marker to create ample space and received a well timed pass from fellow sub Jacques Zoua. Stocker beat a superb Manuel Neuer between the legs to seal an epic home win.
- The first half was one of the most entertaining, scoreless 45 minutes of football that I have ever watched. The second half slowed down considerably but the packed house at St Jakob-Park certainly got their moneys worth on Wednesday night!
Three Stars
- Yann Sommer
- Mario Gomez
- Xherdan Shaqiri
What did Gomez do to earn 2nd star of the game?! Alaba, Lahm, Rafinia, and Robbery were all much better than him. He had no presence in the game outside his few half chances and 1 good chance (the header, which was flipping awful). 2nd star should’ve gone to Basel’s defender Aleksandar Dragović. He was a beast back there.
And yeah you’re right about Robben. As much as he’s an amazing player, he does embellish a lot.
agree 100%
Dragovic and Steinhöfer were good later in the match for Basel. Alaba was one of the only guys showing well for FC Bayern. Lahm wasn’t bad either.
Yeah I must concur. Gomez was completely invisible apart from one chance he completely blew. If there was a player I’d have chose from Bayern to be in the three stars it would have been Ribery.
All in all it was a horror show defensively. The Bayern line played too high up and it cost them on the Stocker goal. One play in particular came to mind that summed up the Bayern defensive game was that at one point it was up to Philipp Lahm to try to win an aerial duel with Marco Streller. I think that speaks volumes about how disorganized the Bayern defence were last night.
The attack lost all creativity after Ribery left the match; a lot of passing but nothing of quality when it came to finding that final ball. This lead to too many shots from distance and I only remember Alaba’s causing Sommer any kind of distress.
Bayern are not out of this tie by any stretch but they need to be aware that Basel has been quite good away from home this CL campaign. If the Swiss get an early goal in Munich it’ll be curtains for die Rekordmeister.