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Inside the SuperClubs: Guardiola's tactics alter Bayern Munich's identity
All week Planet Futbol will delve into the SuperClub that is Bayern Munich, covering the German franchise's celebrated past and present while profiling some of its legendary players and biggest names. This is the fifth part of the series.
Seven months after Pep Guardiola’s most painful moment as a manager, Bayern Munich’s 4-0 loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League semifinals, Bayern looks stronger than ever. As Guardiola navigates the culture clash between Spain’s flowing football and Germany’s counterattacking game, he has built a team that won the Bundesliga in record time despite falling miserably in Europe last year.
A recent two-week span that included wins over AS Roma (7-1 and 2-0) and Borussia Dortmund (2-1) comprise the perfect microcosm of the team’s tactical evolution since humiliation in April. The recovery remains incomplete until the team faces a similar test this season, but it certainly is a much more Spanish team now, with decidedly German elements still irretrievably embedded.
Particularly in analyzing Bayern, traditional formation notation becomes useful only for understanding the foundation of a philosophy. Three or four numbers in a string only scratch the surface of Guardiola’s positional play. It all depends on the phase of play and opponent.
Play begins in the back, with center backs comfortable on the ball and an organizing midfielder who distributes precisely. A series of short passes aims to move opposition defenders and open spaces to bypass the highest lines of pressure.
As play advances, so do these farthest-back players. The center backs often stand inside the opponent’s half as Bayern creates overloads in attack. Under Jupp Heynckes, they were an average of 39.5 yards from their own goal, versus 44.1 yards under Guardiola.
Manuel Neuer, the best sweeper-keeper in the modern game, brings up the rear and ranges far outside his penalty area both in possession and to break up counterattacks. These daring movement patterns allow Bayern’s fullbacks to step up with the intention of supporting the attacking midfielders.
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David Alaba usually plays in the back, and he has blossomed into the most multi-dimensional attacker on the team. A positional chameleon, Alaba’s ability to read the game, provide pressure at the right moments and complete penetrating passes makes his impending lengthy absence with a knee injury that much more devastating.
Guardiola likes to play with as many midfielders as possible. His fullbacks and wingers have similar qualities to his central players, and overloading the central channel is one of the immutable points in his coaching philosophy.
The creative midfielders are free to move and interchange, flowing with the fullbacks and wingers. The near-side wingers and central midfielders have a close relationship in combination play, always set up to play one-twos down the touchline.
When Guardiola took over, he recognized one key difference between Bayern and the Barcelona team he left: the Bavarians’ strength lies in wingers Franck Ribéry and Arjen Robben, as opposed to the suffocating central triumvirate of Andrés Iniesta, Xavi and Lionel Messi.
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As such, the fullbacks take their movement cues from the wingers and make runs to balance the team’s shape, rarely occupying the same vertical space. When the winger cuts inside, the fullback overlaps; when the winger stays wide, the fullback squeezes centrally. That dynamic relationship frequently intersects the “half-spaces,” so-called in one tactical theory gaining prevalence.
Half-spaces are derived from dividing the pitch into 18 zones — three spaces horizontally in each half and three channels vertically. The attacking half-spaces laterally border the central zone directly on top of the opposition penalty area (Zone 14).
The majority of goalscoring chances originate in Zone 14, but it’s also the middle channel that teams cover first on defense. The half-spaces maintain 360 degrees of ball-playing options but also share isolation possibilities that come with maintaining width.
These areas are difficult to defend because they sit in the spot between where wide and central players normally position themselves defensively. This creates confusion about how to mark a player in the awkward gap between lateral defensive zones.
Attacking the half-spaces allows Bayern to keep its overload in the middle, but it keeps play close to one-on-one specialists Ribéry and Robben, who roam the touchlines. As Bayern’s fullbacks push into higher spaces, it allows the creative midfielders to press higher in turn and support the target striker with runs into the penalty area.
They can then be in position for knockdowns on crosses, on which Bayern prey as much if not more than the initial service into the box. If an opponent clears haphazardly, the second runners pounce.
Inside the SuperClubs: Bayern captain Lahm boasts intelligence, versatility
This cluster of advanced players also comprise the first pressuring line, designed to stop counterattacks at the source through immediate chase and pressure. The six-second defensive rule is another tenet of Guardiola’s philosophy, perhaps easier to execute with more athletic German players and certainly more vital in a Bundesliga where every team counterattacks dangerously.
Another measure of protection against counterattacks is the single organizing midfielder, Xabi Alonso. In his first year, Guardiola often reverted to a double pivot of two defensive midfielders despite his desire to play with one; Bayern was more comfortable playing with two in front of the center backs, a holdover from Heynckes’ two seasons.
Philipp Lahm’s unexpected affinity for the position provided an intriguing option for Guardiola, but he’s not quite as defensively capable as Alonso or Sergio Busquets. Guardiola played the position and turned Busquets into a world-class player there at Barcelona.
The No. 6 is the most important role in Guardiola’s philosophy, the linchpin of the system. Alonso’s central presence and ball-winning ability allow the center backs to split and fullbacks to push higher. Alonso drops to distribute from a deeper spot, but also to cover the resulting gap in the back line.
He frequently completes the highest percentage of passes on the team, as well as lingering near the top of each competition’s chart. While Alonso’s prowess on the ball is easy to appreciate — his 204 touches on Sept. 27 against Köln broke the Bundesliga record — he also offers a security blanket defensively.
Another new player, Robert Lewandowski, marks a slight change in Guardiola’s most advanced player as well. He plays as more of a target than false 9, although his mobility has been impressive, and he still covers plenty of ground.
Inside the SuperClubs: How Bayern Munich emerged as a world power
Lewandowski still interchanges with Ribéry and Robben on the wings, and Thomas Müller plays almost as a second striker off his shoulder. Guardiola initially tried to mutate Müller’s natural forward skill set to become the team’s primary playmaker, resulting in this year’s hybrid. He and Lewandowski can occupy three or four defenders as Bayern builds out of the back. That provides space for the wingers and Mario Götze, who moves to balance Bayern and unbalance the opposition.
Bayern has no shortage of game-changing individuals, who are vital in providing the necessary moments of brilliance to dismantle the low defensive blocks they commonly face. Within a superb team structure, these players shine.
The next challenge for Bayern is to thwart the counterattack that caused it so many problems last season. It’s a risk with a system predicated on getting numbers around the ball to dominate in possession, and it’s a major cultural difference that Guardiola has marked for adaptation.
Counterattacking is part of German players’ DNA, as hardworking yet tactically aware footballers. Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund provide the stiffest tests, but Bayern has shown new ability, as in its 2-1 league win over Jürgen Klopp’s men on Nov. 1.
Best soccer tifos from around the world
Galatasaray fans display a sensational "Rocky" tifo ahead of their clash against rival Fenerbahce. It didn't inspire a victory, though. The Turkish rivals played to a 0-0 draw.
Borussia Dortmund fans channel their 1963 cup triumph over Benfica ahead of the teams' second leg in the Champions League round of 16 at Signal Iduna Park.
Hapoel Be'er Sheva fans turn to Moses for tifo inspiration, with his splitting the Red Sea illustrating how "impossible is nothing" in their Europa League series against Besiktas.
Fans of Tunisia's Club Africain display this pointed tifo at a friendly against PSG, whose Qatari owners have pumped millions and millions into the club.
U.S. fans in Columbus, Ohio, make a "One Nation, One Team" statement ahead of the USMNT's World Cup qualifying match against Mexico on November 11, 2016.
Germany fans display their heart for the team colors ahead of a World Cup qualifier against Czech Republic in October 2016.
Italy fans spell out their support for the Azzurri ahead of a massive World Cup qualifier vs. Spain in October 2018.
Iceland fans keep up their world-famous passion for the national team during a World Cup qualifier against Turkey in October 2016.
Fans in the United Arab Emirates set their sights on reaching the 2018 World Cup in Russia during a qualifying match vs. Australia in September 2016.
Colombia fans send a massive jersey around the stadium during a World Cup qualifier vs. Venezuela in September 2016.
Seattle Sounders fans turn to Game Of Thrones for inspiration in a game against the Cascadia rival Vancouver Whitecaps in September 2016.
Djurgardens fans go all out in Sweden for a match against AIK in September 2016.
Zulte Waregem fans prepare Kortrijk for the absolute worst in this Belgian top-flight match in September 2016.
Seattle Sounders fans turn their pop culture reference to Poltergeist in March 2016 ahead of the season home opener against Sporting Kansas City.
The Timbers Army doubles down on their Eastbound and Down theme, adding another wrinkle during the club's MLS Western Conference final first leg vs. FC Dallas on November 22, 2015 at Providence Park.
Fans make a French flag tifo at Wembley Stadium during the singing of Le Marseillaise ahead of England's friendly vs. France, which took place days after the terrorist attacks in Paris.
The Timbers Army referenced Eastbound & Down's Kenny Powers with their "Cup Bound and Down" tifo for the Portland Timbers' MLS playoff elimination game against Sporting Kansas City on October 29, 2015.
Brondby IF fans display a gladiator holding up a lion's head during the team's Danish Alka Superliga match against FC Copenhagen, whose logo is a lion's head, on September 27, 2015.
New England Revolution fans equate Jermaine Jones to Indiana Jones on their quest to capture the 2015 MLS Cup on September 26, 2015.
New England Revolution fans display a Lion King theme in honor of Orlando City FC's first visit to Gillette Stadium on September 5, 2015.
Red Bulls fans take a shot at NYCFC's two summer arrivals, 37-year-old Frank Lampard and 36-year-old Andrea Pirlo, ahead of their third MLS meeting of 2015.
Germany fans in Cologne salute their World Cup champions ahead of a friendly against the United States in June, 2015.
Real Madrid fans went all out prior to the second leg of the 2014-15 Champions League semifinal vs. Juventus.
Lazio fans display a stunning eagle tifo ahead of the Rome derby against AS Roma in their penultimate Serie A match of the 2014-15 season.
Barcelona fans bid farewell to veteran midfielder Xavi with this banner at his last league game at Camp Nou before he departs for Qatari club Al Sadd.
Fans at Anfield pay tribute to Steven Gerrard in his final home match as a Liverpool player in May 2015.
Juventus fans state their case to beat Real Madrid in the 2014-15 Champions League semifinals and reach the final in Berlin.
Fans at Benfica's Estadio da Luz remind rival Porto who the Primeira Liga reigning champion is during an April 2015 match in Portugal.
New York Red Bulls fans send a pointed message to their NYCFC counterparts prior to the teams' first MLS meeting in May, 2015.
Inter Milan's Curva Nord announces its presence ahead of the April 2015 Derby della Madonnina–the annual clashes between city rivals Inter and AC Milan.
Bayern Munich fans implore their club to (translated) "Never give up" in the Champions League quarterfinal second leg vs. Porto. Bayern then turned a 3-1 first-leg deficit into a 7-4 aggregate win and a place in the semifinals.
Dortmund fans commemorate their 1997 Champions League trophy in the club's clash vs. Juventus–the opponent on the wrong side of that title bout.
Portland Timbers fans speak out against homophobia with this tifo in a 2013 match against Chivas USA
Atletico's supporters display a banner reading "Atleti crushes" before the Spanish league match between Atletico Madrid and FC Barcelona at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid,
Borussia Dortmund fans put on a remarkable display ahead of a UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg match.
Brondby IF fans unveil a tifo ahead of a match in Denmark against Randers FC.
FC Barcelona fans display a huge banner in memory of former head coach Tito Vilanova.
Galatasaray fans support their team during the UEFA Champions League Group D match between Borussia Dortmund and Galatasaray at the Turk Telekom Arena in Istanbul.
The American Outlaws unveil a huge tifo ahead of a 2014 World Cup send-off match between the USA and Turkey at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J.
Marseille's supporters use paper sheets to create an "OM" (Olympique de Marseille) tifo at the beginning of the French L1 football match between Marseille and Genoble.
Seattle Sounders fans display their tifo that shows coach Sigi Schmid playing cards and holding a Royal Flush before a match against the Portland Timbers.
Panathinaikos Athens fans display a banner during the UEFA Europa League match against Dynamo Moscow.
Fans of the Saudi Al-Hilal team celebrate after the scoring of a goal against Uzbekistan's Bunyodkor.
Seattle Sounders fans unveil a tifo inspired from the “Build a Bonfire” chant, featuring Sounder players holding torches on horseback ahead of a game against the Portland Timbers.
Fans of Hertha BSC before the Bundesliga match between Hertha BSC and Werder Bremen in Berlin.
Sporting Kansas City fans channel their inner Mario ahead of the 2013 MLS Cup final vs. Real Salt Lake.
Brondby IF fans.
Thousands of Barcelona fans hold up cards to spell out "Barca! Orgull," which translates to "Barcelona pride" ahead of a Champions League clash with Bayern Munich at Camp Nou.
Fans raise a tifo celebrating “Community, Club and Country” ahead of a CONCACAF Gold Cup match between the USA and Belize in Portland, Oregon.
Vitesse fans unfurl a massive Eagle banner at the Dutch Eredivisie match against Ajax at the GelreDome.
Valencia fans drape a banner featuring a king for a Copa del Rey ("The King's Cup) match against Atletico Madrid.
Juventus fans make a statement in Turin in a match vs. Inter Milan.
Dortmund fans put on another strong display at a Bundesliga match against Mainz 05.
German fans boast the newest star earned by the national team, symbolizing its 2014 World Cup triumph, at a Euro 2016 qualifying match in Dortmund.
Real Madrid fans make a point to display the club's 10 European championships ahead of the October 2014 clash against rival Barcelona at the Bernabeu.
San Jose Earthquakes fans unleash a massive tifo to mark the opening of Avaya Stadium, MLS's newest soccer-specific venue, in March 2015.
Barcelona fans show all who the real 12th man is ahead of the March 2015 Clásico vs. Real Madrid.
Ahead of a clash with Mexican foe Monterrey, Tigres players are treated by this message by its fervent supporters.
Standard Liege fans have a pointed message for Steven Defour, who departed the club for Belgian rival Anderlecht.
Orlando City fans mark their club's inaugural MLS game vs. fellow expansion side New York City FC with a statement that the Lions' "reign begins now."
Real Madrid fans salute Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo after he captured the most prestigious individual prize in world soccer again.
Vitesse fans pay homage to Operation Market Garden ahead of an Eredivisie match against SC Heerenveen.
Sevilla's fans deploy a giant banner in the stands before the UEFA Europa league final match between Benfica and Sevilla.
Fans in Liverpool’s Kop End at Anfield commemorate those lost in the Hillsborough disaster.
Lyon fans during a game against Saint Etienne.
Bayern remains susceptible to being pressed, especially if players advance too early when building out of the back and leave others isolated in poor areas, and could still defend set pieces more efficiently, but Guardiola has balanced the team in transition moments. The addition of Alonso and a renewed emphasis on high-pressure defending provides equilibrium with a bludgeoning attack.
The spirit of enterprise and risk in the team is voracious, starting from the manager and filtering through the squad’s ultra-competitive mentality. The seven players on Germany’s 23-man roster at the 2014 World Cup personified the new Bayern philosophy, paired with their pre-existing qualities to make them unstoppable in Brazil.
Guardiola’s biggest accomplishment in his first year was overseeing the marriage of Germany’s ruthless, machine-like directness and his own fluid positional play. With Guardiola’s fingerprints, die Mannschaft lifted the trophy, scoring 18 goals and conceding just four.
That comes from the manager’s lack of fear, eschewing it in favor of all-out attack. His constant quest for perfection continues this year, as does his willingness to adapt and evolve.
Last year’s Champions League exit only rejuvenated Guardiola’s desire to create a successful team in Munich that is undisputedly his in terms of style. Observers of his process will be left with more tactical revolution to digest, but the obsessive Catalan will have already moved onto his next conquest by the time they dissect it.
GALLERY: Bayern Munich through the years
FC Bayern Munich Through the Years
1900
A Munich gymnastics club refuses to let eleven of its members join the German Football Association, so those eleven form Bayern Munich as a standalone football club that same evening.
1965
Franz Beckenbauer and Bayern Munich enter the Bundesliga for the first time, having been passed over for the initial collection of teams in favor of 1860 Munich. They win the DFB-Pokal (German Cup) in their first season and finish third in the league.
1967
The club captures its first European trophy, winning the 1967 Winner's Cup with an extra-time victory over Glasgow Rangers.
1970
Udo Lattek is hired as head coach. In two different stints in charge of the club, Lattek (seen here in '87) would coach for more days (over 3,000) and win more trophies (10) than any other coach in the club's history.
1971
The club moves from the Grunwalder Stadion to the Olympiastadion, which had been built for the 1972 Summer Olympics. It would be Bayern's home for 35 years.
1972
Bayern Munich defeats Schalke 5-1 in the first live televised match in Bundesliga history, winning that season's league title as a result.
1974
The club wins its first European Cup (now Champions League), 4-0 over Atletico Madrid. It goes on to win the competition the subsequent two years as well.
1974
The club signs Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. The striker would go on to score 162 goals for the club and is currently the CEO of the corporation that owns Bayern Munich.
1976
The club wins its first international trophy, defeating Brazilian club Cruzeiro to win the Intercontinental Cup (now abolished).
1987
Jupp Heynckes is hired as head coach. He would win two Bundesligas and two Super Cups.
1993
Norwich City defeats Lothar Matthaus and Bayern Munich 2-1 at the Olympiastadion in the UEFA Cup (now Europa League), the only time a British club was able to defeat Bayern at its old home ground.
1996
With Franz Beckenbauer as interim manager, Bayern wins the UEFA Cup final against Bordeaux, the only time they have won the competition.
1998
Ottmar Hitzfeld is hired as head coach. He would go on to coach the second-most total games and win the second-most total honors in club history (both behind Uto Lattek).
1999
Bayern loses the Champions League final in extra time to Manchester United.
2001
Bayern wins its third consecutive Bundesliga title with a stoppage-time goal against Hamburg from Patrik Andersson on a rare free kick from inside the penalty area.
2001
Bayern wins the Champions League after defeating Valencia on penalty kicks at the San Siro in Milan, Italy.
2001
Bayern wins the Intercontinental Cup in extra time against Boca Juniors, thanks to a goal from Samuel Kuffour.
2005
The club moves from the Olympiastadion to the newly-built Allianz Arena, which they share with local rivals 1860 Munich.
2008
The club hires Jurgen Klinsmann (left) as head coach following his success with the German national team at the 2006 World Cup. He is fired 10 months later.
2012
Bayern reaches the final of the Champions League in its home stadium, but loses on penalties to Chelsea. It is the first time the club is defeated by an English team in Munich.
2013
Bayern Munich wins the Bundesliga with six games left, the earliest a champion has ever secured the title. Bayern also sets the record for most points in a season, most wins in a season, and fewest defeats.
2013
Bayern wins the Champions League over rivals Borussia Dortmund with a 2-1 win at Wembley Stadium.
2013
Bayern completes the first treble in German soccer history, winning the DFB-Pokal via a 3-2 triumph over Stuttgart.
2014
Bayern ends a Bundesliga record 54-game stretch without losing by falling 1-0 to FC Augsburg.
2014
Bayern breaks its own record, securing the Bundesliga title with seven matches remaining.
2014
Club president Uli Hoeness, who had reigned since 1979, resigns after being convicted of tax fraud.
2014
The club opens offices in the Unites States in an attempt to expand its international reach.
2015
Robert Lewandowski holds up all five fingers–one for each goal he scored in a nine-minute span in a memorable 5-1 win over Bundesliga foe Wolfsburg.
Liviu Bird is a soccer analyst with more than 20 years of experience in the game. He learned how to play in the streets of Romania before moving to the soccer wilderness of Fairbanks, Alaska, escaping to play collegiately as a goalkeeper at Highline Community College and Seattle Pacific University, where he also earned his B.A. in journalism. Bird played semiprofessionally and had tryouts at professional clubs but hung up his gloves in 2012 to focus on writing and coaching at the youth and collegiate levels. He joined Sports Illustrated in March 2013 as a freelance contributor and has also written for NBC Sports, Soccer Wire, The New York Times, American Soccer Now and the Telegraph (UK).