Champions League 2019-20: Bayern Munich 2-0 Olympiacos - 5 Talking Points and Tactical Analysis 

#1 Have Bayern become too reliant on Robert Lewandowski?

Lewandowski scored the opener for Bayern

A month ago, Bayern thrashed Tottenham Hotspur 7-2 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. In that game, Serge Gnabry scored four goals while Lewandowski popped up with a handy brace. However, apart from that performance, the Bavarians have found it hard to get going offensively, meaning that they’ve conjured several dour displays.

Even on Wednesday, the hosts controlled the game and enjoyed possession for a majority of it. Yet, their attacking play alarmingly lacked conviction and a cutting edge.

On far too many occasions, they looked devoid of ideas and bereft of imagination. Subsequently, they kept weaving predictable patterns without ever threatening to stitch together a substantial end product.

However, akin to many a time before, a certain Polish striker stood up when the chips were down, ultimately scoring the opener. Lewandowski’s strike was his 21st of the season, which is just a shade more than 50% of the goals Bayern have scored in the Bundesliga and the Champions League.

The second goal, meanwhile, came about after Olympiacos had thrown men forward in search of an equaliser.

Apart from the forward’s goal, there was very little the home side created from open play and when the opposition was willing to defend stoutly; a pattern that has recurred quite frequently over the past couple of seasons.

Unsurprisingly, the Bavarians have failed spectacularly when Lewandowski has come unstuck, a trend that has engulfed the club in the latter stages of the Champions League especially.

And, though it might be too premature to jump to conclusions, one can’t help but wonder if Bayern are actually becoming too dependent on their Polish striker.

After all, if they are to win the UCL again, they surely can’t rely on a single source for goals, can they?