Viktoria Plzen 2-4 Bayern Munich: Initial reactions and observations

Initial reactions and observations

• Bayern Munich are through to the Round of 16 in the Champions League. Nervy last few minutes from the boys but they got it done.
• Second half was very mediocre. Nagelsmann needs to look at game management because it’s been lacking.
• Seeing Sadio Mane step up to marshal the team in the final few minutes was good to watch. His experience was needed.

Full time: Bayern win 4-2.

74’ — Goal. Plzen make it 4-2 now. That’s not good.

69’ —Subs: Paul Wanner and Marcel Sabitzer on for Leroy Sane and Dayot Upamecano.

60’ — Goal. Plzen make it 4-1. Bayern’s first conceded goal in the Champions League this season.

55’ — Sub: Ryan Gravenberch comes on for Leon Goretzka. Goretzka doesn’t seem injured though.

49’ — Goretzka tumbles over the keeper and looked injured for a minute, but he’s up now.

45’ — The second half is underway! Choupo is on for Kingsley Coman.

Halftime observations and analysis

• Been a statpad game for Bayern Munich so far. Not much happening for Plzen.
• Thomas Muller being inexplicably subbed off is worrying. The team cannot afford more injuries right now.
• Mathys Tel missed his first chance but he’ll get more. This is why you give kids minutes.
• Coman could try to shoot the goal and not the keeper.
• Goretzka hasn’t scored a brace since 2019? What a stat.

Halftime: Bayern lead 4-0.

34’ — GOOOOOAL! Goretzka makes it 4-0. Oof.

28’ — Sub: Thomas Muller goes off for some reason. Mathys Tel comes on for him.

24’ — GOOOOOOAL! This is a bit much. Goretzka makes it 3-0.

14’ — GOOOOOOOOOOOAL! Thomas Muller makes it 2-0! Looks dangerous here.

10’ — GOOOOOOAL! Sadio Mane makes it 1-0!

Kickoff: We’re underway!

One hour until kickoff: Rotation isn’t real, and the young players are just window dressing. Julian Nagelsmann has opted to field a mostly full-strength Bayern Munich XI given the injuries and absences, with Thomas Muller starting as captain up top. Fans will be disappointed to not see any sign of Mathys Tel in the lineup.

It’s a bit early in the season, but Bayern Munich are getting all the crises out of the way up front. We’ve already had the finishing crisis and the coaching crisis, now it’s time for the injury crisis.

We’re cheating a little here because not all seven of the first team players who will miss tonight’s Champions League game against Viktoria Plzen are injured, but that hardly matters because they can’t play anyway. Important absentees include teenage sensation Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies the starting left-back, and two starting center-backs in Lucas Hernandez and Matthijs de Ligt.

At least Thomas Muller and Joshua Kimmich are back, but will they be enough for Julian Nagelsmann to best Plzen? Normally we’d say yes, but results haven’t been easy to predict this season.

It’s Bayern time.

While you wait for the game, why not check out our latest podcast episode? We analyze Nagelsmann’s seasonal struggles at Bayern and the importance of the next few games. TL;DL, Round of 16 qualification and Nagelsmann’s job could both be on the line. Listen below or on Spotify.

Match Info

Location: Doosan Stadium, Pilsen, Czech Republic

Time: 9:00 pm local time, 3:00 pm EST

TV/streaming: Paramount+, Find Your Country

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