Bayern Munich won a 2-0 victory over Al Ahly and did it impressively. The Bavarians dominated the game even on a day when they were probably not performing 100%. Here are some quick hitters on the game:
It might be cliché to say, but Al Ahly played without fear of Bayern Munich. The Egyptian side was there to rumble. Otherwise, however, Bayern Munich stifled Al Ahly with pressure in a completely and utterly dominant first half. It was overwhelming at times, but it was pretty incredible that the Bavarians only came out of this half with one goal. Robert Lewandowski, of course, was responsible for this tally after converting a Serge Gnabry feed. Bayern Munich could easily have scored three or four more goals in the first half as Marc Roca, Gnabry and Thomas Müller all had quality chances. Müller, of course, probably wishes he could reclaim a few of those chances. Bayern Munich’s end product struggled the entire game despite being dominated. I would say it was more a product of the arduous travel experience than anything else. Jerome Boateng was very, very good that day. In fact, every defender was good. Benjamin Pavard put on another stellar performance, while Alphonso Davies could have put in his best effort in weeks. David Alaba was the weakest of the starting quartet, but he wasn’t bad at all either. Niklas Süle’s cameo was brief and uneventful – which is exactly what you’d expect from a defender, who comes into play as a submarine. Dude… it looks like Leroy Sane is tailor-made to replace him. Some of his best performances this season have come off the bench. His cross for Lewandowski, who scored the Polish Hitman’s second goal, was superb. The partnership between Joshua Kimmich and Marc Roca was good that day. Kimmich did some really good things, but had some bouts of neglect with the ball. Roca was quietly solid and appears to have passed Corentin Tolisso for the role of third midfielder on the list. Kingsley Coman was once again a totally disruptive force. Coman’s continued growth as a player is evident in every game with the consistency of his decision making and also how much he embraced defending his position. Manuel Neuer was solid again. If Bayern Munich are to beat the Tigers, they’ll need to make sure he’s regenerated and ready to go. The Mexican club will undoubtedly seek to defeat the European giants.
If you missed our post-match Match Awards, Observations or Podcast, take a look or listen:
Well, well… Transfer Market Web captured a report from notoriously reliable Don Balon, which made it clear that Pep Guardiola would be looking to bring in Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich during the summer transfer window:
According to Don Balòn, Manchester City are planning a summer move to right-back / German international midfielder Joshua Kimmich (who turns 26 today, February 8). Able to fill the prestigious shoes of former captain Philipp Lahm, the former RB Leipzig and Stuttgart player is currently on contract with Bayern Munich until June 2023 and, according to Transfermarkt.de, is worth 85 million euros .
Hmmm… seems legitimate.
At least one source has Chelsea on the verge of finalizing a deal with Bayern Munich center-back Jerome Boateng, but let’s just say this report is sketchy at best:
Chelsea continue to put Jerome Boateng in the spotlight. The Germany international was already Frank Lampard’s target in the past market and now with Tuchel arriving on the bench he remains on the agenda.
According to the information we have at TodoFichajes, Chelsea have reached an agreement with the player’s agent. The Blues have been working on the operation for some time and if nothing goes, he will arrive in London at the end of his contract with Bayern Munich.
Without a doubt, Boateng will go ahead, but his exact destination could be one of many places. Italy’s favorable tax situation and the attraction of playing in the United States tempting him, Boateng could opt for a destination other than England. Still, the Premier League might be able to offer him the most advantageous combination of salary and bonus, which could be a powerful factor as the defender ends his career.
Is it unlikely that Boateng will move to Chelsea? Nope. It’s unlikely that a deal has been made at this point in the game.
One of the burning questions that probably plagued most Bayern Munich fans over the past two days probably had nothing to do with Hansi Flick’s roster selections or whether the team could find a way to convince David Alaba to stay.
Nope! Not at all.
What worried the REAL fans was whether the weed in Qatar was up to par or not!
And let me tell you, according to Hansi Flick – a man who clearly admires fine grass – Qatar offers warm ground that we lawn enthusiasts would love to admire:
Hansi Flick praises Qatar’s facilities and hosting capacities: “The conditions are perfect here, the pitch is great, the stadium is beautiful. You can say that everything will be in perfect condition to host the World Cup in 2022 ” [FIFA]
– Bayern and Germany (@iMiaSanMia) February 8, 2021
I am literally unable to control myself. I’m going to the cold shower!
While most transfers with RB Leipzig have been focused on Dayot Upamecano, there is another contingent of teams who seem to prefer Ibrahima Konate – including Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea:
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer now looks to RB Leipzig’s Ibrahima Konate as Manchester United’s main center-half goal this summer as he looks to take the team to the next level and fight for the title.
The Norwegian has come to regard this position as a priority, and his team-mate Dayot Upamecano has already been considered the best choice. With Bayern Munich leading the way there and Konate performing equally well for his center-half partner, the latter is an increasingly attractive option. Konate is a 21-year-old with 11 caps for France, which is just the latest example of Leipzig’s exceptional recruiting.
However, United could have a lot of competition in England as Konate is already garnering the same level of interest as Upamecano. Liverpool and Chelsea are also looking at the center half seriously.
Really… who isn’t interested in Chelsea in the Bundesliga? It could be a shorter list.
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