Inside Julian Nagelsmann’s Tactical Revolution at Bayern Munich (2021/22)
Bayern Munich made a flying start to the 2021/22 season under Julian Nagelsmann, winning six of their first eight matches and netting 29 goals along the way. The German coach quickly established his imprint on the team, blending high-octane attacking football with tactical nuance. This in-depth tactical analysis explores how Nagelsmann reshaped Germany’s most dominant club during his early tenure.
Formation and Tactical Structure: The Evolution of 4-2-3-1
Nagelsmann initially maintained continuity from his predecessor Hansi Flick by opting for a 4-2-3-1 formation, using familiar faces in key positions. However, subtle yet significant changes showcased his innovative approach:
– Dayot Upamecano, recruited from RB Leipzig, replaced David Alaba in central defence, partnering with the versatile Lucas Hernandez ahead of the outgoing Jerome Boateng.
– Nagelsmann rejuvenated Leroy Sane’s role, restoring confidence in the winger and giving him a pivotal spot on the left. As a result, Kingsley Coman’s presence in the starting eleven diminished.
– While the 4-2-3-1 served as the nominal setup—especially out of possession—Nagelsmann’s dynamic system often morphed during games. With Bayern dominating possession, their shape frequently resembled a 3-1-5-1, as players roamed fluidly in advanced areas.
– The coach occasionally experimented with a 3-4-2-1, particularly when tactical adjustments were required, but a permanent switch depended on squad depth in wide defensive roles.
This flexible structure granted Bayern tactical unpredictability and allowed them to dominate both defensively and offensively.
Patient Build-up Play: Crafting Attacks from Deep
Nagelsmann’s Bayern constructed attacks using precise, methodical build-up phases. The typical shape involved:
– Three players at the back (the two central defenders and right-back), supported by holding midfielder Joshua Kimmich, who acted as the anchor.
– Alphonso Davies, deployed as left-back, consistently took up high and wide starting positions, creating natural width and stretching opposition lines.
– Wingers like Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry frequently tucked into central areas, supporting Thomas Müller and Leon Goretzka, who enjoyed freedom to float and exploit spaces.
– The left side formed the primary channel for progression, with the Davies-Sane partnership often serving as the launching pad for dangerous moves upfield.
Bayern’s defenders were rarely pressed aggressively, allowing them both time and space to dictate the tempo. The defensive unit rotated the ball while seeking opportune moments to feed Kimmich, whose exceptional distribution enabled seamless transitions from defense to attack. While short passing remained the default choice, Bayern also utilized direct long balls and quick switches of play—often delivered by Kimmich, Manuel Neuer, or Upamecano—to catch opponents off-guard.
Key characteristics of the build-up included:
– Center-backs Upamecano and Süle were encouraged to advance with the ball, creating numerical superiority in midfield.
– Kimmich’s precision long passes frequently set Davies free on the wing.
– Goretzka made penetrating runs from deep, while Müller’s intelligent movement created overloads.
– The system inherently emphasized teamwork over individual brilliance—even prolific scorer Robert Lewandowski’s goals were typically the product of coordinated multi-player attacks.
Width, Movement, and Positional Free Play
Under Nagelsmann, positional variation and relentless off-the-ball movement became hallmarks of Bayern’s offensive game:
– Players were given license to interchange positions, making the team highly unpredictable and challenging to mark.
– Attackers like Sane and Davies on the left, or Müller and Gnabry on the right, combined with overlapping and underlapping runs to overload wide areas.
– Versatile rotations led to frequent “bounce passes”—quick one-twos or wall passes that broke compact defensive lines and enabled sudden line-breaking moves.
– Off-the-ball movement from one player invariably opened firing lanes for another, disrupting defensive assignments.
– Bayern’s penetration into the penalty area was quick and decisive, with several players arriving in the box to meet low-driven crosses, high deliveries from Kimmich, or sharp pullbacks after getting behind the opposition.
This mobility translated into directness in the final third. Bayern not only dominated set attacks but were also clinical in transitions, often playing quick through balls and capitalizing on any defensive disorganization.
Pressing: Relentless and Structured Defensive Pressure
Despite their attacking prowess, Bayern were equally impressive without the ball:
– Nagelsmann’s high press focused on rapid ball recovery and initiating attacks immediately after winning possession.
– Bayern averaged 17.4 tackles per game—among the highest in Europe’s top leagues—even while commanding 62.8% possession and conceding very few fouls (8.5 per match).
– The pressing shape frequently shifted: when Davies operated high, the defensive formation resembled a 3-4-3 or 3-4-2-1, with Sane joining Müller and Lewandowski at the front line. During longer defensive spells, Bayern reverted to a more conventional 4-2-3-1 or even a 4-2-2-2, adapting to opposition threats.
– The pressing was predominantly man-oriented, with clear individual marking responsibilities, akin to Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United. This approach increased both intensity and efficiency, resulting in a noticeable uptick in tackles per match compared to Flick’s era.
This collective defensive organization ensured that lost possession was almost immediately reclaimed, sustaining Bayern’s attacking rhythm.
Set-Piece Threats: Maximizing Dead Ball Scenarios
Set-pieces added another dimension to Bayern’s arsenal:
– Opponents, preoccupied by the aerial prowess of Lewandowski and Müller, often lost track of powerful presences like Upamecano or Goretzka.
– Kimmich’s deliveries routinely found unmarked teammates in dangerous positions, either for direct finishes or clever flick-ons.
– Secondary runs and smart movement inside the box gave Bayern multiple scoring threats, not just relying on their main strikers.
– Both Sane and Kimmich contributed with direct goals from set-plays, increasing the complexity of Bayern’s set-piece routines.
In the Bundesliga’s early months, Bayern had already scored five goals from set pieces, with Lewandowski netting three and Müller and Sane adding one each.
Conclusion: Bayern’s Tactical Adaptation and Champions League Ambition
Julian Nagelsmann’s early impact at Bayern Munich was defined by attacking excellence, tactical innovation, and flexible structures. The Bavarians scored freely, registered dominant performances, and led the Bundesliga table after eight games, amassing 29 goals and 19 points.
Their attractive style, characterized by positional rotations, meticulous combinations, and rapid transitions, made them formidable both domestically and in Europe. The team’s capacity for fluid adaptation—whether exploiting wide areas, deploying patient build-up, or pressing with intensity—ensured Bayern remained favorites for further silverware.
While the future will reveal if Nagelsmann can translate domestic dominance into European glory, his tactical approach has undoubtedly engineered a Bayern side capable of challenging for the highest honors.
