Leon Goretzka and Leroy Sane were the shining lights as Bayern Munich cruised to a 4-2 win over Viktoria Plzen on Wednesday.
Bayern Munich began the game emphatically, going three up midway through the first half. The first goal came through Sadio Mane, who exchanged a brilliant give-and-go with Leon Goretzka before beating Jindrich Stanek. The visitors then doubled their lead through Thomas Muller, who Kingsley Coman set up after Leroy Sane had sliced open the Viktoria Plzen defence.
Sane was involved again when Goretzka found the back of the net, with the German international converting Muller’s cut-back. And Sane finally made an official contribution when he set Goretzka for Bayern’s fourth against Viktoria. The German international had plenty of time to locate his compatriot, who dinked the ball over Stanek.
While Bayern looked primed to cruise to an even bigger win than the 5-0 rout last week, Viktoria Plzen had other plans. The hosts looked threatening in the early stages of the second half and came close to scoring through Ludek Pernica. And Viktoria Plzen finally scored just after the hour mark.
Jhon Mosquera’s header outside the Bayern box found Adam Vlkanova, whose snapshot rifled into the net. And the hosts pulled another goal back in the 75th minute, as Jan Kliment spun and scored his side’s second. But Bayern ensured there was no late drama and clinched a 4-2 win to seal a spot in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. The Hard Tackle now runs the rule over Julian Nagelsmann’s men.
Bayern qualify in style 🥳#UCL pic.twitter.com/n750H6I6zg
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 12, 2022
Sven Ulreich: 6/10
Ulreich deputised well for Neuer in the Bayern goal against Viktoria Plzen, making a few brilliant save. The one to deny Ludek Pernica was especially delightful, but he could not have done anything to keep out the hosts’ two strikes.
Noussair Mazraoui: 6/10
Mazraoui hardly got involved in matters in the final third despite the dominance by Bayern against Viktoria Plzen. The Moroccan international’s output on the ball was also sub-par as he lost possession 16 times. But he did well defensively for the most part and stood to the task well.
Benjamin Pavard: 7/10
Pavard slotted in as a centre-back and forged a solid partnership with Dayot Upamecano. The French international had a busy evening, completing five clearances and numerous tackles and interceptions. He also won seven duels while ensuring a 94 per cent passing rate. That might have been the first of many games as a centre-back in the coming games.
Dayot Upamecano: 7/10
With injuries racking up, Nagelsmann took Upamecano off with 20 minutes left in regulation time. Before that, the Frenchman was rock solid at the heart of the Bayern defence while losing the ball just thrice. He will be a pivotal figure for Die Roten amid the rising fitness issues.
Josip Stanisic: 6/10
Stanisic continued to step up for Bayern, this time as a left-back. The Croat mopped up several loose balls while making many crucial defensive interventions. He had a couple of nervy moments but mostly held his own at the back. Stanisic also showed his versatility late on when he slotted in as a centre-back following Upamecano’s substitution.
Leon Goretzka: 9/10
Leon Goretzka has scored or assisted 6 goals in his last 3 appearances:
🅰️🅰️ vs. Viktoria Plzen
⚽ vs. Dortmund
⚽⚽🅰️ vs. Viktoria PlzenPlaymaker. 💫 pic.twitter.com/HjxSZVkfln
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) October 12, 2022
Goretzka was at his domineering best on Wednesday. And he again took advanced positions on the pitch. The German international combined well with Sadio Mane and Leroy Sane, in particular.
He provided the assist for the former while converting the latter’s sumptuous pass for his second strike. Goretzka also produced a superb finish from the edge of the box for his first and might be back to his best.
Joshua Kimmich: 7/10
Kimmich was typically solid in the middle of the park and kept Bayern on top for much of the game. But he could not have done much to stop Viktoria Plzen’s resurgent run in the second half, with the visitors playing from the flanks. Nonetheless, Kimmich ensured Bayern did not slip up late on. And he also kept the ball alive in the build-up to Goretzka’s second.
Kingsley Coman: 7.5/10
Coman was here, there, and everywhere for Bayern in the first half. The French attacker linked up beautifully with Sane, especially in the build-up to the goal he set for Thomas Muller. But Coman’s outing lasted just one half, with Nagelsmann taking him off at the break to preserve him.
Leroy Sane: 9/10
Leroy Sané has now been directly involved in 17 goals in his last 14 Champions League games (10G, 7A). #UCL pic.twitter.com/g0XFn4ZWxv
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) October 12, 2022
Sane, the player to watch in our preview, reprised a central role, first behind Muller and then Mathys Tel, and that brought the best out of him. The German international ran the show along with Goretzka, with his pass to slice open the Viktoria Plzen defence in the build-up to Muller’s goal being particularly delightful. And while Sane did not score for the fourth Champions League game in a row, he grabbed an assist for Goretzka’s second.
Sadio Mane: 8/10
Mane was one of the standout performers for Bayern in the game. The Senegalese international opened the scoring with a delicate finish from close range. Mane was then involved in most other goals and linked up particularly well with Goretzka. Most importantly, he stepped up and became the leader for Bayern when Viktoria Plzen threatened to equalise late in the match.
Thomas Muller: 7/10
Muller reprised the “false nine” role in the final third and looked the part in the game’s opening quarter. He also found the back of the net with an instinctive shot from Coman’s low cross. But he added to Bayern’s injury woes as he went off with an injury ahead of the half-hour mark.
Sadio Mane has a lot of love for Thomas Muller 🤍 pic.twitter.com/CS5R1EZuo6
— GOAL (@goal) October 12, 2022
SUBSTITUTES
Mathys Tel: 5/10
Tel replaced an injured Muller in the 28th minute and had a few chances to get on the scoresheet. But the young striker failed to capitalise on the few opportunities he received and should do better in future games.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting: 6/10
Choupo-Moting replaced Coman at half-time and completed nearly all his attempted passes. But he barely got into the box and did not muster even one shot. However, he ensured he worked hard for his team, completing a few crucial defensive interventions.
Ryan Gravenberch: 6/10
Gravenberch replaced Goretzka ahead of the hour mark, and Bayern did not look the same after that. The Dutchman still needs time to find his feet at Bayern, but the outing against Viktoria Plzen should bode well for him. He also came close to scoring once, only for Stanek to tip his shot onto the crossbar.
Paul Wanner: 6/10
Paul Wanner replaced Upamecano for his Champions League debut. And the teenage prodigy gave a decent account of himself, even though Viktoria Plzen had some joy on his side.
Marcel Sabitzer: 6/10
Sabitzer was decent in the final 20 minutes, as he barely lost possession. At the same time, he was solid off the ball and helped Bayern see the game out in the dying embers.
