Three Bayern insights: Only Neuer’s blunder clouds the mood | OneFootball

FC Bayern clearly beat TSG Hoffenheim on matchday 21. FCBinside provides three insights into the game

After two consecutive Bundesliga games without a win , Bayern clearly won 5:1 against the Kraichgauers. The game provided the following insights

1. Bayern are back on track

Before kick-off against Hoffenheim, Borussia Dortmund had moved to within three points of FC Bayern. The Munich side had recently dropped five points in the Bundesliga: in the home defeat to Augsburg and the draw in Hamburg

They therefore went into the game against third-placed Hoffenheim with a certain amount of nervousness, as Harry Kane admitted after the ultimately clear victory: „After two games without a win, there was a bit of unrest in the team this week. It was important to stay calm,“ said the Englishman

Kane pointed out that the decisive games that will decide the titles are now coming up: „We’re in good form. The season is only really starting now,“ said the goalscorer

Bayern really got back on track against Hoffenheim. The course of the game also played into the hands of coach Vincent Kompany’s team. The first penalty for FCB was at least debatable, and the red card for Kevin Akpoguma meant the visitors were punished twice as harshly. If Hoffenheim had played with eleven players for longer, the task would have been much more difficult for Bayern

But soccer is not decided in the subjunctive mood, and in the end the record champions were able to extend their lead over BVB to six points. That was an important signal: Bayern are more clearly back on course for the title, despite the unrest following the points missed in the previous games

2. Diaz embodies absolute world class

The Allianz Arena was the stage for the next big Luis Diaz show against Hoffenheim. The Colombian was involved in every Bayern goal: Diaz took both penalties, which Kane confidently converted, and then the 29-year-old scored a treble

The FCBinside grade of 1 was well deserved for this world-class performance. Diaz has embodied this absolute world class since his arrival in Munich, as there are few attacking wingers in the world who interpret their role in the same way as Diaz and can boast such numbers. After 30 appearances for Bayern, he has 32 scoring points. Diaz has already contributed 18 goals and 14 assists in his first FCB season

In comparison: Bayern legend Franck Ribery scored 44 points in the 2011/12 season, while Arjen Robben scored a total of 38 goals in 2013/14. These figures seem anything but unattainable for Diaz

photo: IMAGO

He wasn’t actually the first choice of the Bayern bosses in the summer, but Diaz has become a real top transfer. It’s not just his scoring figures that are impressive. His attitude and consistency are also incredibly valuable to the team. Diaz fights and works hard, prepares and scores and hardly ever misses a game

It doesn’t always have to be a world-class performance like the one against Hoffenheim: Luis Diaz will continue to bring joy to Bayern fans for a long time to come

3. Only Neuer’s blunder dampened the mood

The only goal Bayern conceded was clearly down to Manuel Neuer. The FCB captain tried to play a chip ball over Fisnik Asllani too casually, but the ball came too low and the Hoffenheim striker was able to pluck it down and play it into the middle to Andrej Kramaric. The Croatian only had to slot it in to make it 1-1 at the interval

Neuer’s blunder was the only fly in the ointment in Bayern’s strong performance – and in his own performance too, incidentally, because otherwise Neuer actually played a good game and made two brilliant saves. But looking ahead to the upcoming tasks – especially the knockout matches in the Champions League and DFB Cup – you get a queasy feeling at the thought that Neuer is always good for a slip-up. Just think of the Champions League semi-final in 2024, when Neuer cost Bayern a place in the final

Looking ahead to the World Cup in the summer, Oliver Baumann in goal for Hoffenheim scored points in a direct duel with Neuer. Of course, Neuer hasn’t thrown his hat into the ring yet. But after Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s new injury, the goalkeeping question in the DFB goal is becoming more urgent

Even if it sounds strange when you’ve conceded five goals, Baumann put in a convincing performance in Munich. The keeper prevented the worst with many good saves and exuded great composure throughout. Neuer, on the other hand, was too relaxed in one scene and conceded an absolutely unnecessary goal.