Kingsley Coman was the standout performer for a struggling Bayern Munich, as they played out a 1-1 draw with Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday.
The first half ebbed and flowed beautifully, with both teams having periods of dominance. Bayern Munich started as the stronger of the two sides, with Serge Gnabry forcing Philipp Kohn into a sharp save. But Red Bull Salzburg grabbed the lead midway through the first half through Chukwubuike Adamu, who had not even started the game.
Karim Adeyemi was the catalyst of the move that culminated with Adamu’s goal, as his driving run left the Bayern Munich defence back-pedalling before he found Brenden Aaronson. Aaronson then laid the ball towards Adamu, whose precise finish went into the bottom corner for the opener.
Salzburg continued to put Bayern Munich under pressure, and Sven Ulreich made a couple of decent stops to deny the hosts. The visitors stepped up after the interval, dominating the game for the most part, apart from one moment wherein Adeyemi nearly scored. But as the minutes wore on, it seemed like Salzburg might manage to hold to clinch a big win.
In the final minute of regulation time, those fears were put to rest as Benjamin Pavard’s floated ball ricocheted off Thomas Muller towards Kingsley Coman, whose close-range finish made it 1-1. The goal was the last major moment of the game, which ended in a draw, leaving the Round of 16 tie hanging in the balance. The Hard Tackle now runs the rule over Julian Nagelsmann’s men.
Sven Ulreich: 7/10
Deputising for Manuel Neuer, Ulreich was a solid customer between the sticks for Bayern Munich. The German goalkeeper could not have done much to deny Chukwubuike Adamu, but he made two splendid saves to keep Bayern Munich in the match. He also helped build play smartly from the back, misplacing just one pass all game.
Benjamin Pavard: 7/10
The best of the three Bayern Munich defenders, Pavard, barely let the Red Bull Salzburg attackers evade him, with Niklas Sule more at fault for Adamu’s goal. The French international produced a brilliant block to deny Salzburg a goal in the second half, and it was his floated ball that eventually found Kingsley Coman for the equaliser.
Niklas Sule: 5/10
Sule looked the nerviest of the three Bayern Munich centre-backs, and there were a couple of moments wherein he let the pressure from the Red Bull Salzburg attackers get the better of him. But the German defender built up play carefully from the back, completing 92 per cent of his attempted passes.
Lucas Hernandez: 6/10
Lucas Hernandez was generally solid in keeping a check on Karim Adeyemi. But the Frenchman was in all sorts of trouble when the German international drove at him in the build-up to the opener. Otherwise, Hernandez did reasonably well, completing four tackles while winning eight duels.
Serge Gnabry: 7/10
Gnabry was, by far, the most threatening player for Bayern Munich in the first half. The German international came close with two efforts while barely losing possession carelessly. He also smartly stitched play together and played three key passes. But his impact waned considerably after the break, with Kingsley Coman becoming more potent.
Joshua Kimmich: 7/10
Joshua Kimmich’s game by numbers vs RB Salzburg:
117 touches
85% pass accuracy
13 attempted long balls
11/17 duels won
8 successful long balls
7 fouls drawn
4 successful crosses
3 chances created
3 clearances
3 interceptions
2 tackles wonBayern’s heart. ❤️? pic.twitter.com/eU2RODtuG0
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) February 16, 2022
Kimmich spent a lot of his time in the opposition half, especially in the second half, although that also meant that Brenden Aaronson got a chance to drift past him whenever Red Bull Salzburg broke on the counter. That said, the German international was one of the most creative outlets for his team and played three key passes.
Corentin Tolisso: 6/10
Tolisso endured a game of hits and misses. The Frenchman was instrumental in helping Bayern Munich dominate the proceedings in the second half, but he lacked the bite to push his team beyond the resolute Mohamed Camara. However, Tolisso put in the hard yards off the ball, winning five duels.
Kingsley Coman: 8/10
Bayern Munich’s most dangerous player on the night was Kingsley Coman. While some of his passes were sloppy, the Frenchman carried a lot of threat in the final third and looked the likeliest to score a goal. At the same time, Coman also played a joint-team-high four key passes while popping up in the right place at the right time to bury the equaliser.
Kinglsey Coman's game by numbers vs. Salzburg:
17 duels won (most)
13 touches in opp. box
10 passes into opp. box
8 shots (most)
7 aerial duels won (most)
7 take-ons completed (most)
5 ball recoveries
3 shots on target
2 fouls won
1 goalRidiculous output. #UCL pic.twitter.com/eePfCioxXQ
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 16, 2022
Thomas Muller: 6/10
Salzburg found a way to curb Muller’s creative instincts greatly on the night. While the veteran German playmaker remained the most potent outlet for Bayern Munich, he was well off his best. That said, Muller still managed to make a difference, as he directed Pavard’s long pass towards Coman for the late equaliser.
Leroy Sane: 5/10
Naglesmann installed Sane in a central role, but the German international lacked the cutting edge to make things happen. Nonetheless, he did see a few chances falling his way, although his finishing left a lot to be desired apart from one moment wherein Kohn denied him with a superb save.
Robert Lewandowski: 5/10
It was one of those rare games wherein Lewandowski struggled to impose his presence. The Pole often had to drift wide to see the ball, which robbed him of his best qualities. He could not link up play as well as he usually does while retaining a paltry 61 per cent passing rate.
Robert Lewandowski’s first half by numbers vs RB Salzburg:
50% pass accuracy
15 touches
4 passes completed
2/7 duels won
2 attempted take-ons
1 successful take-onSilenced. ?? pic.twitter.com/RBIthKBWxR
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) February 16, 2022
SUBSTITUTES
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting: N/A
On for Gnabry, Choupo-Moting did not see much of the ball in the game’s final quarter.
Marcel Sabitzer: N/A
A late introduction, Sabitzer helped Bayern Munich retain control on the game in the dying embers.
