Spurs vs FC Bayern | ‘Talking Tactics’ with Rob Daly

Ahead of each game this season, we’ll be bringing you a tactical insight on our opponents and how the match might unfold, courtesy of club commentator Rob Daly. You’ll be able to read Rob’s expert analysis here on tottenhamhotspur.com and the Spurs Official app, with home games also analysed in our official matchday programme, on sale as usual at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the day of each game.

Spurs vs FC Bayern – Rob’s viewpoints

Saturday afternoon’s test against Bayern Munich should be our toughest test of pre-season. Vincent Kompany’s side will be even stronger with more of their Euro 2024 players back from their summer break and last week’s meeting in Seoul gave us an excellent idea of what challenge they pose.

New intensity

Bayern pressed with incredible intensity in the first half of last Saturday’s 2-1 victory. Kompany could be heard screaming players’ names to shut down the ball when Spurs played out – a tactic that bore fruit after four minutes when Guglielmo Vicario’s loose pass was picked off for the opening goal.

The press seemed synchronised after just three weeks’ work at Bayern’s Säbener Strasse training base – and looks like an immediate non-negotiable of Kompany’s Bayern. The new head coach wasn’t as happy second half, when the intensity dropped after multiple changes. Spurs exploited that and worked openings centrally thanks to good work from Lucas Bergvall, Yves Bissouma, Pedro Porro and Djed Spence.

Front foot defending

When we did play around the initial press in the first half, the aggressive defending of Bayern’s back four was noticeable too. For example, if Dejan Kulusevski, playing as the striker, had the ball with his back to goal, centre-back Kim Min-Jae would charge out to get super tight and physical. Either winning the ball or giving away a free kick, it breaks up the opposition’s flow.

Son v Boey

Sacha Boey played in similar fashion against Heung Min-Son. The right-back tried to give our captain as little time on the ball as possible. However, when Boey got too tight for one moment in particular, a really sharp first touch in-field saw Son dart away, cut inside and shoot. Saturday’s potential re-match should be interesting.

Flexible formations

Last season, Bayern stuck to a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Harry Kane used in a familiar role. Along with scoring goals (44 in 45 games), he could drop deep to release quick players like Kingsley Coman, Leroy Sané, Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry – like he used to here for Son.

However, Kompany has insisted “I don’t think we talk about systems anymore. The Bundesliga is a very, very good league and it’s an example of how flexible coaches are. Players are able to play different systems.”

He’s been true to his word. Having used a back three in a 1-1 friendly draw with fourth-tier German side Düren, Kompany played four at the back against Spurs.

João Palhinha

Either way, Bayern are likely to use a double pivot in midfield with Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlović fulfilling that role from the start last week and impressing.

However, there has been a long-standing discussion at Bayern about the need for a dedicated holding midfielder - not just smart, technical players who keep possession.

João Palhinha is their answer to that problem – a signing made a year later than Bayern would have liked. Superb during two years at Fulham, he’s the midfield destroyer they’ve been looking for.

Fluid attack

Last week there was real fluidity to Bayern’s attack – a purposeful ploy Kompany revealed after the game. Striker Mathys Tel, in particular, was a threat drifting out to the left to collect possession and get his shots away. Left winger Gabriel Vidović kept appearing centrally, as he did for his goal.

With exciting additions up front, including Michael Olise signed from Crystal Palace (away at the Olympics with France) and 18-year-old Australian international Nestory Irankunda, how Bayern configure their attack will be fascinating – and an excellent test for Spurs defensively.