Bayern Munich Vs. Tottenham Hotspur Analysis: 5 Things We Learned From
Champions League Match
Bayern Munich beat
Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 in today’s Champions League match at the Allianz Arena.
With both teams having already
qualified for the Champions League knockout stage, this match was effectively a
dead rubber. So it’s tempting to ask what could be learned from the match,
given the result makes no discernible difference to either side.
But, with both teams still
settling in under new managers, there are insights to draw from the game. Here
are five things we learned from the match.
Jose
Mourinho trusts Eric Dier
The recently-arrived Spurs boss is
known to be an admirer of Dier and tonight, in a much-changed Spurs team, the
England midfielder was picked to anchor the midfield. Not only that, Mourinho
made Dier his captain. With nothing at stake, this was an opportunity for
Mourinho to play a few fringe players, but Dier was not the only possible
choice as captain. Other senior players like Toby Alderweireld and Danny Rose
could also have taken the armband.
Dier is getting an
extended run in the team as he looks to get back to full fitness but this was a
difficult match for him. Spurs only managed 30% possession and were well
beaten. Dier didn’t impress, but few Spurs players did.
This might be the last time we see Christian
Eriksen start for Spurs
It’s unfair to be too critical of
individual players given Spurs were completely outplayed (by a Bayern side
featuring a few more first team regulars), but this was another disappointing
performance from Eriksen. The Dane is clearly heading for the exit door,
whether in January or next summer.
Since he made his desire to leave clear, his level has dropped
and at times he looks disinterested. Mourinho hasn’t started him in the four
Premier League matches since he joined as manager. It would surely be better
for everyone if Eriksen moved in January, when Spurs can still get a fee for
him. With his contract up in the summer, he’ll be good value in the winter
transfer window. The question is, will one of his preferred clubs make a bid?
Sessegnon
can play a big part this season
On his first start for Spurs, the
19-year-old provided the team’s best moment when he smashed home his first
Champions League goal. Sessegnon, remember, has been playing senior soccer
since he was 16 and made 35 Premier League appearances – scoring two goals –
for Fulham last season.
There is some debate over whether
his best position is left wing or left back. Against Bayern, perhaps wary of
exposing the youngster, Mourinho played him on the wing with the experienced
Danny Rose behind him at left back. As well as his goal, Sessegnon stretched
the Bayern defence with his pace and put in a solid performance. At home,
against defensive opposition, Mourinho may give him a try as a forward-thinking
left back. He’s certainly earned another chance, in either position.
Other fringe players need another chance
Sessegnon was the bright spark but
several of Spurs’ other fringe players deserve another opportunity after
tonight. In defence, Juan Foyth didn’t do too much wrong but was still part of
a backline that conceded three goals, and that’s with Bayern’s leading scorer
Robert Lewandowski on the bench. To his right, Kyle Walker-Peters had a
challenging match. He struggled against the pace of Kingsley Coman and, after
he went off injured, the guile of Ivan Perisic. Serge Aurier, the regular right
back under Mourinho, will feel confident about keeping his place for the
Premier League match at Wolves on Sunday.
Another given gametime was Giovani
Lo Celso. The creative Argentine midfielder worked hard but, asked to provide
cover ahead of Walker-Peters on the right, he also had little joy. Lo Celso was
replaced after 65 minutes. Mourinho is known to like to stick to his favourite
starting 11 once he has decided upon it, but it would be cruel to cast aside Lo
Celso based on this match. During the busy Christmas period he should get
another chance, hopefully for him in a match where Spurs has more of the ball.
With
Coutinho, Bayern can do damage to any team
After this win, Bayern finished
top of the group with six wins from six, making them only the sixth team in
Champions League history to have a 100% record at this stage. Yet in the
Bundesliga, which it has won for the past seven seasons, Bayern is seventh.
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