Three Bayern insights after Bremen: Karl reports back | OneFootball

FC Bayern beat Werder Bremen with ease on matchday 22. FCBinside provides three insights into the game

Bayern clearly won the traditional duel in the Weser Stadium with 3:0. The game provided the following insights

1. Goretzka won’t give up

The fact that Leon Goretzka didn’t give up when Bayern would have liked to sell him on several occasions is slowly being told. However, Goretzka added a new chapter to this story in the game in Bremen

Since the international turned down a winter transfer to Atlético Madrid, he has only been given a few playing minutes. In the matches against Eindhoven in the Champions League and against Hamburg and Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga, he sat on the bench for over 90 minutes in each case and did not come on at all

In the Weser Stadium, Goretzka then made a somewhat surprising return to the starting eleven – and was immediately impressive again. In the center of midfield alongside Joshua Kimmich, Goretzka played a flawless game, had a pass rate of 97 percent and initiated Harry Kane’s 2-0 with his ball win and even marked the 3-0 final score with his own goal

Goretzka stayed at FCB because he wants to win another title this year, but at times it looked as if he would only be watching from the bench. The game in Bremen was a statement from Goretzka. You can still count on him – especially in the decisive phase of the season, in which coach Vincent Kompany will rotate from time to time

Goretzka summed up his motivation for the last few months in Munich after the game: „We have the feeling this season that anything is possible,“ he said. Goretzka’s goal is all titles: „Triple, of course“

2. Karl reports back

For Lennart Karl, things have not just been on the up recently. During the winter break, he caused a stir with his statements about his dream club Real Madrid. In his last few appearances, the 17-year-old had a much harder time than during his meteoric rise at the start of the season. Against Hoffenheim, he had to put up with malice after an overhead kick went wrong

In Bremen, however, Karl was back to his best. In the first half in particular, the super talent looked very lively again, often dribbling and dribbling his way to the penalty that Kane converted to make it 1:0 for Bayern. Karl not only worked his magic going forward, but also at the back

He even received extra praise for this from the coach after the game: „Bremen were always dangerous with their crosses. And in the first half, there was a cross to the second post. If he hadn’t covered Stanisic’s gap, it would have been a goal for Bremen,“ said Kompany, highlighting Karl’s defensive behaviour in this scene: „And that’s only because a young 17-year-old player switches gears in his head and realises that he has to help the team. That’s the most important thing for me.“

The Belgian continued: „We’ve already seen his talent and quality in training and in the games. As a young player, he doesn’t have the pressure to lead a team to success. But today he worked well offensively and defensively.“ In the second half in Bremen, Karl was no longer as eye-catching as he was in the first half, but his form curve is clearly pointing upwards again

3. Gnabry disappears again

With Serge Gnabry, the cliché persists that he never plays as well as when he’s playing for a new contract. His extension at the record champions was announced at the beginning of February, after which he failed to impress in the games against Hoffenheim, in the cup against Leipzig and now in Bremen. Each time, Gnabry only managed an FCBinside grade of 4

photo: IMAGO

Gnabry was once again committed in Bremen, but again created too few dangerous scenes for his position in the attacking center. As in the games before, Gnabry was hardly to be seen in longer phases of the game. That this has anything to do with his new contract is, of course, pure speculation

However, Gnabry’s current dip in form coincides with the ongoing return of Jamal Musiala. Bayern are continuing to build up their number 10 very cautiously following his serious injury in the summer. In Bremen, Musiala was substituted in the 69th minute. Gnabry had to come off for him. It is only a matter of time before Musiala is back in Bayern’s starting eleven. Gnabry is currently collecting few arguments to then play alongside him.