Olise scores a hat-trick, Kane reaches 100 Bundesliga goals faster than anyone, and Union manage three shots all night.
The numbers
| FC Bayern München | 1. FC Union Berlin | |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 68% | 32% |
| Shots | 23 | 3 |
| On target | 15 | 2 |
| xG | 3.77 | 0.34 |
| Touches in opp. box | 55 | 5 |
Result the chances deserved: FC Bayern München 94% / 5% / 1. FC Union Berlin 1% (Poisson).
Starting line-ups
FC Bayern München (4-2-3-1): Neuer, Stanišić, Upamecano, Tah, Davies, Kimmich, Pavlović, Olise, Musiala, Luis Díaz, Kane.
1. FC Union Berlin (4-2-3-1): Rønnow, Trimmel, Querfeld, Uduokhai, Rothe, Khedira, Aebischer, Haberer, Schäfer, Jeong, Latte Lath.
Union subs: Skarke (46', Latte Lath), Kemlein & Burcu (60', Haberer & Jeong), van den Bosch (71', Trimmel), Köhn (82', Schäfer). Union's 4-2-3-1 is as FotMob lists it; FC Bayern's report lists the midfield slightly differently.
Kim Min-jae: 45 minutes at centre-back. FotMob figures reported by Star News: 30 of 34 passes completed (88%), one interception, two duels won, most of his touches around the halfway line.
Key moments, move by move
- Davies counter-presses and wins the ball back on the left, in Union's half.
- After a one-two he slips the ball to Musiala at the edge of the box.
- Musiala shoots after one touch from about 23 metres into the far top corner.
- Olise runs at Rothe on the right of the box and is fouled.
- Kane scores the penalty.
- Union only half-clear a free-kick and Musiala controls it.
- He touches it off to Olise just outside the right edge of the box.
- Olise curls it first time into the top right corner, at the near post.
- Kimmich plays a long ball from deep out to Olise on the right.
- Olise whips a cross to the near post.
- Kane glances a header in from about eight metres.
- Davies finds Saibari on the left.
- Saibari weaves past defenders into the box.
- A powerful left-footed finish beats Rønnow.
- Bischof plays a diagonal ball over the top from midfield.
- Olise runs onto it behind the Union defence.
- He rounds Rønnow and slots it into the empty net.
- Olise and Bischof play a one-two outside the Union box.
- Olise takes the return pass on the right, about 23 metres out.
- Olise curls it into the top right corner to complete his hat-trick.
The counter-press, backed by a high line
- Win it back straight away. FC Bayern's own analysis says counter-pressing was the key: whenever Union won the ball, Bayern's nearest players went straight at it until they had it back. Union had three shots and five touches in Bayern's box all game.
- A high line behind the press. With both full-backs pushed on, the centre-backs held a line near halfway. Union's clearances went straight back to Bayern instead of relieving the pressure.
- Kim Min-jae after the break. He replaced the booked Upamecano and played higher than usual. According to FotMob, most of his touches came around halfway and in Union's half, and he completed 30 of 34 passes.
- Olise from the right. He had six shots and 106 touches (FotMob). Two of his goals were left-footed curlers from almost the same spot, 22-23 metres out on the right (Bundesliga.com shot data).
Recreate it in FM26
FC Bayern München · FC Bayern München's counter-press and halfway line · 4-2-3-1Show cardHide card
FC Bayern München's counter-press and halfway line
| Pos | Player | In Possession | Out of Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Neuer | Sweeper Keeper | Sweeper Keeper |
| RB | Stanišić | Full-Back | Pressing Full-Back |
| RCB | Upamecano | Ball-Playing Centre-Back | Stopping Centre-Back |
| LCB | Tah | Centre-Back | Covering Centre-Back |
| LB | Davies | Full-Back | Pressing Full-Back |
| RDM | Kimmich | Deep-Lying Playmaker | Defensive Midfielder |
| LDM | Pavlović | Defensive Midfielder | Pressing Defensive Midfielder |
| RW | Olise | Inside Forward | Winger |
| AM | Musiala | Advanced Playmaker | Attacking Midfielder |
| LW | Luis Díaz | Winger | Winger |
| ST | Kane | Deep-Lying Forward | Centre Forward |
Team instructions
In Possession
- Passing DirectnessShorter
- Progress ThroughRight
- Attacking WidthWider
Out of Possession
- Line of EngagementHigh Press
- Defensive LineMuch Higher
- Defensive TransitionCounter-Press
- Trigger PressMore Often
The idea: Counter-press every lost ball and hold the defensive line near halfway, so clearances land at your own players' feet: 1. FC Union Berlin managed five touches in the box all game. In possession, feed Olise on the right to cut onto his left foot. You need quick centre-backs comfortable 40 metres from goal and a sweeper keeper.
What FM26 can't copy: 1. FC Union Berlin were the weakest side Bayern had faced in the league; against a team with pace in behind, a Much Higher line is a real risk.
Our reading of this match in FM26 terms, not an exported tactic file. Role names as in FM26.
What if? Replay it with a different plan
Our best alternative plan: Formation 4-3-3, Karl on at 55' (for Musiala), Gnabry on at 60' not 77' (for Kane). Once it was 4–0, the best plan was control and rest: a third midfielder to stop the breaks that brought Union's two early second-half chances, and Musiala and Kane off by the hour. Fewer goals, fewer chances against, and fresher players. It moves FC Bayern München's win chance from 94% to 94% (xG 3.77–0.34 becomes 3.55–0.24). Try your own changes to formation, pressing, approach and substitutions.
The game-changer FC Bayern München needed
Lennart Karl
Bayern didn't need a game-changer; they needed someone to take minutes off key players. Karl can play Musiala's role between the lines and presses from the front. Musiala played all 90 minutes and was later injured with Germany.
Moisés Caicedo
Union's two real chances came early in the second half, from one break down their left and a corner. Caicedo wins the ball back fast and covers behind attacking full-backs, and would let Kompany rest Kimmich or Pavlović in games like this without losing bite.
What the analysts said
“You saw today how much the guys chased after every ball.”Vincent Kompany (FC Bayern website)
“Michael Olise is a whole package. It's easy to work with such players.”Vincent Kompany (via Yahoo Sports)
“When I play alongside players like Michael, Lucho and Jamal, I get my chances.”Harry Kane (FC Bayern website)
“That's just Bayern – they don't stop. They always want to keep going, even running to take throw-ins.”Tom Rothe, Union Berlin (FC Bayern website)
“Obviously Michael scored those goals, but he's done a lot of work on those shots in training.”Vincent Kompany (FC Bayern website)
The finishing made it seven. The pressing is what will last.
What's happening. Bayern beat Union 7–0. Olise scored a hat-trick, Kane reached 100 Bundesliga goals faster than anyone, and Union managed three shots all night.
How it works. Bayern counter-pressed every lost ball and held their defensive line near halfway, so every clearance landed at a Bayern player's feet. Union had five touches in Bayern's box in 90 minutes. Kim Min-jae came on at half-time and defended high up the pitch rather than in his own box; it was a low-risk half, but it showed he fits this role.
What the shots say. Replaying every shot, Bayern win 98 times in 100. Seven goals is about three more than the chances, mostly thanks to Olise's two curlers and a finish after rounding the keeper. The number that will last is Union's: almost nothing created.