Chapter 210: Chapter 210: Bayern's Strength
Chapter 210: Bayern's Strength
Udinese took the lead thanks to Di Natale's goal. Guardiola frowned slightly, displeased by the goal. However, he had to admit that Udinese's goal was well-executed. From Guilherme's pressing to Widmer's successful interception, and then Udinese's rapid counterattack, the entire sequence was incredibly fast, leaving Bayern Munich's defense struggling.
Guardiola quickly identified the problem: the attack started from Alonso losing possession under pressure.
"Alonso as the lone defensive midfielder is under a lot of pressure," Ten Hag commented.
"I know," Guardiola nodded. He had anticipated this issue when setting up the formation, knowing Alonso might be targeted by Udinese. Yet, he persisted with this tactic because, for this match, the emphasis was not on defense.
Ten Hag glanced at Guardiola, understanding that they intended to fully engage Udinese in an offensive battle, relying on their attacking prowess.
Despite Alonso's dual capabilities in defense and attack, Udinese's aggressive focus on him had weakened Bayern's defensive structure. Guardiola decided that the team needed to push forward and suppress Udinese's offense with their own attacking power.
However, he didn't expect the second goal against Bayern to come so quickly.
In the 28th minute, Bruno Fernandes delivered a long pass to Guilherme, who charged into the penalty area. Feinting a shot, he fooled the veteran Brazilian defender Rafinha and passed the ball to Di Natale. Shielding the ball from Dante, Di Natale shot on the turn. Neuer blocked the shot with his leg, but Salah was quick to pounce and slotted the rebound into the net.
"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!"
"Mohamed Salah! 2-0, Udinese leads Bayern Munich by two goals," the local Udinese commentator shouted. "This is madness! Bayern Munich's defense has been breached again, and their attack has yet to make an impact. Götze, Lewandowski, Müller, Lahm, Thiago, Alonso — Bayern's stars are playing like they're in a daze."
The commentator was right. Lacking support from the midfield, Bayern's stars like Götze, Müller, and Lewandowski were struggling to pose any real threat to Udinese's goal.
As Salah, Di Natale, Bruno, and the rest of the Udinese players celebrated the goal, Götze stood with his hands on his hips, staring at the ground. Nearby, Müller spat on the turf in frustration, and Lewandowski shook his head in resignation.
Bayern Munich's attacking trio felt stifled, having to drop deep frequently to get the ball, trying in vain to break through Udinese's disciplined and tough defense with individual skills.
When the first half ended, the score was 2-0. Udinese had dominated the match, except in possession, where Bayern led with 55%. In all other statistics, Udinese had the upper hand. Notably, Udinese had ten shots compared to Bayern's three.
Reporters in the press box were shocked. This was Bayern Munich, the team dominating the Bundesliga, being outplayed by Udinese on their home turf. How was this possible?
"The problem lies with Alonso," BBC's renowned commentator John Motson noted. "The Spanish midfielder has been the focus of Udinese's attacks, putting Bayern's defense under constant pressure and affecting their overall performance."
"It's not just that," Gary Lineker, Motson's co-commentator, added. "Guardiola surely sees this issue, but he hasn't adjusted his tactics. He might be overly confident in Bayern's offensive capabilities, thinking they can outscore Udinese. Clearly, that's not happening."
During the halftime break, Guidolin praised his players but reminded them, "A football match lasts 90 minutes. A 2-0 lead at halftime doesn't guarantee a win. Be prepared for Bayern Munich's counterattack in the second half. Our tactics have worked so far, so let's stick to them."
On the tactics board, he circled Alonso's name, making sure everyone understood the game plan.
"Guardiola knows his team's problem too, so expect adjustments in the second half," Guidolin continued.
He anticipated that Bayern Munich, as a top team, with world-class players, would regroup and come out stronger after the halftime break. Udinese needed to be ready for Bayern's offensive onslaught.
"If Bayern changes their formation, we'll play on the counterattack. We have the right to counter with a 2-0 lead. Stay calm even if Bayern scores; they'll be more desperate than us."
Despite expecting various scenarios from Bayern Munich in the second half, Guidolin was still caught off guard when Bayern scored early.
Before the second half began, Bayern made a substitution: Götze was replaced by Rode. Bayern shifted from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2, with Rode partnering Alonso as a double pivot.
Guidolin glanced at Guardiola, surprised by the swift and decisive change.
Rode, a promising German talent known for his stamina and passing, immediately bolstered Bayern's midfield.
In the 49th minute, Alonso delivered a precise pass between Bruno Fernandes and Guilherme. Thiago received the ball at the edge of the penalty area, feinted past Maguire, and accelerated. Nearing Cancelo, he abruptly stopped, shifted direction, and used the brief gap created to curl a shot into the far corner. Karnezis got a hand to it but couldn't keep it out.
"GOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!"
"Thiago! Thiago! Thiago!" the German commentator exclaimed. "1-2! Bayern Munich pulls one back. In a crucial moment, Thiago steps up. Thiago becomes the 11th different player to score for Bayern in the Champions League this season, just one less than Chelsea's 12."
Guidolin gestured in frustration from the sidelines. While he was angry about conceding, he couldn't fault his players for Alonso's brilliant pass.
He realized he had underestimated Alonso's impact. The initial defensive arrangements were insufficient; they needed a special strategy to counter Alonso.
Thiago's goal, though praised, underscored Alonso's pivotal role. With Alonso reasserting control, Bayern came alive, leading to Thiago's goal.
Guidolin adjusted immediately, pulling Guilherme and Widmer back to form a three-man midfield with Kanté, changing Udinese's formation to 4-3-1-2.
Guardiola noticed the change and smiled. "Defensive."
He saw Guidolin's adjustment as a sign of fear, reinforcing defense to protect their lead. However, he believed that against Bayern's relentless attack, merely trying to hold onto a one-goal lead was futile.
Signaling for continued aggressive play, Guardiola told Ten Hag, "The storm is about to begin."
Ten Hag nodded, admiring Guardiola's confidence. Such self-assuredness marked him as a potentially great coach.
Ten minutes later, Alonso sat on the ground as Bayern's medical team attended to him. Guardiola saw the medic signal for a substitution.
"Alonso can't continue," the commentator noted. "Bayern's bad luck continues. Just after pulling a goal back, Alonso is injured and needs to be substituted."
Guardiola quickly instructed Badstuber to warm up.
Guidolin immediately signaled his team to attack. With Bayern temporarily down to ten men, this was an opportunity Udinese had to exploit.
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