On matchday two of the Champions League, Aston Villa overcame Bayern Munich with a 1-0 victory in a boisterous Villa Park.

Heading into the tie, each side had been hoping to keep up their excellent information in European competitors up to now this season, however from the primary whistle, it was clear to see who would dictate proceedings.

Nonetheless, regardless of Vincent Kompany’s facet asserting dominance over their Premier League opponents, Villa would create extra harmful alternatives, and if it weren’t for VAR, they’d have gone into the break one objective to the nice.

Nonetheless, after the interval, with Der Rekordmeister unable to check Emiliano Martínez in objective, the guests can be punished as Jhon Durán caught Manuel Neuer in no man’s land with an beautiful chip excessive of the Bayern shot-stopper to safe the successful objective for Unai Emery’s facet.

It’s a consequence that can spotlight the progress Villa have made since appointing Emery as Steven Gerrard’s successor, however for Bayern, alarm bells will likely be ringing as to how they allowed their hosts to take all three factors.

Is extra wanted from Harry Kane?

Final season, the England captain was a relentless goalscoring machine for Der Rekordmeister, scoring 44 objectives and amassing 12 assists in 43 appearances in all competitions.

With objective contributions towards Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Actual Madrid, Kane usually confirmed up when it mattered.

Nonetheless, since fighting damage in direction of the again finish of final season, the 31-year-old has been unable to duplicate his stellar type, and it has affected Bayern considerably.

Towards Die Werkself on the weekend, Kane went lacking, and as soon as towards tonight, he was nowhere to be seen, failing to register a shot on objective whereas additionally solely making three touches contained in the field.

For the membership file charge that Bayern paid for the Englishman, one season of efficient goalscoring is not going to be thought-about worth for cash, and if they’re to succeed this season, then they’ll want him to refind his type; in any other case, in huge video games, they’ll battle to return out on high.

Bayern can not break down high groups

Up to now this season, Bayern have made gentle work of Holstein Kiel, Werder Bremen, Freiburg, and Dinamo Zagreb.

Nonetheless, when it mattered in clashes towards Leverkusen and Villa, they got here up quick regardless of dominating possession statistics.

At Villa Park, Kompany’s facet struggled to threaten Emiliano Martínez’s objective, and with 70% of the ball, as per FotMob, they might solely common 0.08 xG per shot on objective.

It’s obvious that creating clear goalscoring alternatives is a problem for Bayern, and will probably be an space of their sport that can must be ironed out. 

Whether or not which means getting extra out of their high attacking gamers, comparable to Harry Kane, or tweaking their method, persevering with as they’re is not going to see them meet their bold goals this season.

Bayern Munich’s midfield maestros

When Aleksandar Pavlović emerged from the Bayern youth ranks final season, there was a way that Joshua Kimmich would now not be required on the Allianz Area—a sense that grew over the summer season with stories linking the 29-year-old away from Bavaria.

Nonetheless, regardless of there being uncertainty relating to Kimmich’s future heading into this marketing campaign, below Vincent Kompany, the German worldwide has been rejuvenated, taking part in a staring function for Der Rekordmeister this season.

Alongside Pavlović, the pair have been key to the way in which Kompany appears to keep up possession and dominate video games, and this was no totally different towards Aston Villa.

Whereas the file champions struggled for creativity, each Kimmich and Pavlović had been capable of mix to register twenty-six passes into the ultimate third, 13 ball recoveries, and a 92% cross success fee.

With constant performances like this, there’s little shock that they’ve been capable of restrict João Palhinha’s sport time, and because the season goes on, the pair will solely turn into extra necessary to the Belgian head coach.

GGFN | Will Shopland