Downward Trend Continues: Bayern Munich’s Achilles’ Heel Exposed
Top striker Harry Kane was also unable to prevent FC Bayern’s first loss of the season against Arsenal. (Source: Sven Hoppe)
FC Bayern Munich’s vulnerability on set pieces is becoming a significant problem for the German champions, threatening to derail their ambitious season goals.
While coach Vincent Kompany’s assessment of their upcoming home game against St. Pauli initially seemed surprising, his logic is sound. “It’s important that in our preparation, we make no distinction between St. Pauli and Arsenal,” the Bayern head coach stated ahead of Saturday’s match. “We will never view St. Pauli differently than Arsenal. We cannot afford to.”
This perspective is a direct consequence of the issues that plagued Bayern in their 3-1 Champions League defeat in London. The club’s struggles with set-piece situations continue to be a primary concern leading into their next Bundesliga fixture.
Although FC St. Pauli has lost its last eight league matches and would not typically pose a major challenge, they have scored five of their nine Bundesliga goals—more than half—from dead-ball situations. It is precisely in these moments that the Hamburg-based club will likely see its best, and perhaps only, chance to succeed in Munich.
Kompany acknowledged his team’s susceptibility even before the match against Arsenal. “Everyone has seen it,” he said. “Every team we play against will now believe this is a moment for them.”
After his team conceded its fifth goal from a corner kick in the last three games, Kompany addressed the crisis at a press conference on Friday. “It’s completely normal and understandable that this is a topic of discussion. It will remain so until we put a lid on it,” he explained, making a twisting gesture with his hand as if sealing a bottle. “This phase is what it is. We have to find solutions and close it off.”
For now, Kompany has yet to find the right solution to contain the problem. However, the Belgian coach stressed that he is not planning a complete overhaul. “I don’t want to change everything now—left, right, front, and back.” Instead, the focus is on details, involving “a lot of video analysis, training, and communication.” He believes the team must push through this period and string together “two, three, four, five, eventually ten consecutive games where we look very stable. That’s how you get your confidence back.”
