League leaders Bayern continued their lead at the top of the Bundesliga with a 2-1 victory over Marco Rose’s side. Set up in their usual 4-2-3-1, Bayern were missing their main attacking threats in Müller and Lewandowski. In came the two young players I’m covering today to replace them. They dropped in a 4-4-2 shape out of possession, didn’t tend to press high but the whole team stepped up quickly if they high press was triggered. They pressed well in midfield and as usual were an amazing counter-pressing side, but I felt they had less intensity than usual. It was a scrappy match at times and sometimes lacked tempo. Each team scored a fortunate goal gifted by defensive errors.
A quick note on the ratings, we rate relative to the level of the team they play for. We don’t tend to do the top teams in Europe as it’s fairly pointless but as these two young players got rare starts it was worth doing. An A rating for Bayern means they are a world class player or have the potential to be, for example Alphonso Davies would get A2 ratings from some of his performances recently. A C rating would mean you’re average for a top team and Champions League contender, which still makes you a great player.
Ratings
- A1 – Very good, could play higher
- A2 – Strong potential to play higher
- B1 – Good, strong player at level
- B2 – Potential to be strong player at level
- C – Average for the level, rewatch
- D – Below average in this match
Joshua Zirkee
Player Profile
- Nationality: Dutch
- Age: 19
- Date of birth: 22/05/2001
- Current Club: Bayern Munich
- Career: Feyenoord (Y), Bayern Munich
- Position: Striker
- Preferred foot: Right
Stepping into Lewandowski’s shoes, the 6’4″ Dutch youth international had a promising game. He scored the opening goal after a goalkeeping error with a good finish into a fairly open goal from just outside the box. This was his only shot of the game however, in the box he could have been more active and was slightly static at times. Possibly lacking dangerous instincts and explosiveness in the box.
Although he facilitated the attack well, he lacked creativity in and around the box. He received the ball very well and could hold up play, making simple passes and layoffs to runners but didn’t tend to turn and kept his play fairly simple. At 6’4″ he had a big frame and showed good strength again defenders. He had a good first touch with his back to goal, receiving on the front foot and protecting the ball. He could also receive high balls with his thighs and chest well with controlled touches. However, he didn’t have a great leap and wasn’t as good in the air as you’d expect for his size.
He played to his strength of receiving and hold up play, he drifted wide at times and didn’t look to make forward runs into the box or behind the line. At times I thought he could have been more disciplined to stay central and offer an option in the middle rather than being dragged towards the ball and then Bayern lacked the central option, whereas Muller as the 10 is able to make forward runs and occupy the box but Cuisance is a different sort of player.
Overall, before being subbed off in the 77th minute, he had some strong aspects and was a strong target man but lacked in other areas. But at 19 he definitely has time to develop the other areas and already has good physicality, but possibly could have been more athletic.
Rating – B2
Michael Cuisance
Player Profile
- Nationality: French
- Age: 20
- Date of birth: 16/08/1999
- Current Club: Bayern Munich
- Career: Borussia Monchengladbach, Bayern Munich
- Position: Centre Midfield
- Secondary Position: Attacking Midfield
- Preferred foot: Left
Playing as the 10, Cuisance operated between the lines, supported the attack in wide areas and made late runs into the box, where he was able to get two decent chances but was unable to finish or challenge the keeper. He took up some decent positions between the lines and making runs off of Zirkee. He had a good burst of paces and moved into space well but his touch was inconsistent at times and could have been smoother and allowed the opposition to pressure him.
He scanned really well off the ball and out of possession he organised himself and Zirkee as the highest line well. He worked hard to counter press but lacked intensity in normal pressing. His counter pressing lacked quality though, he dived in too easily and didn’t stay on his feet. When diving in he caught neither the ball or man and was just a fairly weak attempt to win the ball.
Elegant on the ball, the 5’11” French youth international is very agile, with an okay burst okay pace but fairly average over medium distances. He’s agile and mobile but could be more explosive. He was comfortable on the ball, took lots of touches and was good in tight spaces, with quick reactions to pressure and in 1v1s but could have driven into space and been more direct at times. His passing was largely backwards, but did play some good passes to wide areas in the final third and lacked options in the box at times.
Rating – B2