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<\/a><\/p>\nThe nonchalant king strikes yet again. (Photo by M. Donato\/FC Bayern via Getty Images) FC Bayern via Getty Images<\/p>\n
D\u00edaz-Olise the new Robbery?<\/p>\n
Olise has the most chances created of any footballer in Europe\u2019s top five leagues and nine assists in the Bundesliga (should really be 10, if not for Bayern\u2019s fourth awarded as an own goal) after tonight\u2019s sublime cross to set D\u00edaz up for Bayern\u2019s second. Bayern\u2019s right winger is arguably the team\u2019s most important player at the moment, and the club has been quite fortunate with Olise\u2019s availability. The team looks to him for inspiration, especially when facing defenses that are hard to break down, hoping that the Frenchman provides the spark needed to fashion a chance out of nothing.<\/p>\n
Every time Olise touched the ball, there was a palpable sense of a goal looming. With 2 brilliant goals (one with his left foot, one with his right) and an otherworldly assist, his quality and dominance was only matched by one other player – his partner in crime, Luis Diaz. A goal and two assists capped a beautiful performance, and service resumes as usual from Bayern\u2019s attack.<\/p>\n
It would\u2019ve been interesting to have had Diaz for the Arsenal game.<\/p>\n
Bischovi\u0107 will get there\u2026eventually<\/p>\n
Tom Bischof and Aleksandar Pavlovi\u0107 finally started together, something the Bayern fans have been yearning to see in the Bundesliga for months. However, it didn\u2019t look all that pretty to begin with. Getting dispossessed left and right, with some uninspired passing and mediocre positioning, it sometimes felt like Bayern did not play a midfield in the first half. Both players got more comfortable as the game progressed, however. and soon added to the team\u2019s structure. Their services weren\u2019t paramount to Bayern\u2019s success tonight, since Bayern\u2019s front three dominated the game all by themselves.<\/p>\n
What stood out, however, was Bischof\u2019s effort on defense. With some well-timed interventions, a solid block, and better positioning in the second half, the pair gave a sense of what their roles could be moving forward. Bischof seems to be more comfortable operating as a 6, while Pavlovi\u0107\u2019s ball progression and tempo control shine with a more defensive-minded partner in crime.<\/p>\n
They have all the ingredients for a wonderful midfield partnership for the next decade and are simply in need of more game time together. That is if Leon Goretzka doesn\u2019t bench them with his uptick in performances as a substitute, however.<\/p>\n
Is it time for Goal-retzka\u2019s three-week resurgence?<\/p>\n
\u201cThou shall not pass\u201d – Laimerinho, 2026. (Photo by M. Donato\/FC Bayern via Getty Images) FC Bayern via Getty Images<\/p>\n Bayern\u2019s defense is sturdy as ever<\/p>\n Credit where credit is due. That\u2019s how we roll.<\/p>\n The defense has been taken for granted this season, with the squad\u2019s otherworldly pressing and ball recovery times. However, without the solidity that Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah afford at the heart of the defense and the insane lung-busting efforts of Konrad Laimer every game, the squad simply won\u2019t be able to blitz opponents on attack with such intensity.<\/p>\n Josip Stani\u0161i\u0107 has been quite solid and serviceable as a fullback, and with Davies yet to return to full fitness, his shifts have been invaluable. The squad finally has a healthy, deep, and versatile defensive line, and it shows. Kompany\u2019s game-plan seems to work so well because of the team\u2019s structure and the anchoring done by the defense. Manuel Neuer, for all his deficiencies this season, reminds us once every other game that he still has it, with a top-notch save, like he did tonight from close range.<\/p>\n The goal conceded was unfortunate, but the defense was largely spotless the rest of the night.<\/p>\n If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast<\/a>, Spotify<\/a>, Apple<\/a>, or any leading podcast distributor\u2026 <\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n