Chapter 65: Unstoppable Schweinsteiger
The referee for this match was the renowned Bundesliga official, Felix Zwayer, who was voted the most popular Bundesliga referee in a poll conducted by Kicker magazine.
Zwaye's refereeing standards were moderate, but his judgments were very accurate, with few missed or wrong calls.
The fact that such a respected referee was assigned to officiate this match highlighted the importance placed on it by the German Football Association.
It's unclear whether Bayern Munich arranged for Zwayer due to concerns about being disadvantaged by the home referee, or if they used their influence in German football, as Werder Bremen hadn't received such treatment previously.
Both teams announced their starting line-ups before the start of the match. Werder Bremen's starting line-up was:
No. 1 Goalkeeper Militz, No. 22 Center Back Papastathopoulos, No. 15 Center Back Prödl, No. 8 Left Back Fritz, No. 23 Right Back Selassie, No. 16 Back Junuzovic, No. 14 Center Forward Hunt, No. 6 Center Forward De Bruyne, No. 10 Wing Forward Lin Quan, No. 11 Wing Forward Elia, and No. 7 Center Forward Arnautovic.
Their formation was 4-1-4-1, shifting to 5-4-1 when defending and 4-3-3 when attacking. They were adept at both attacking and defending.
However, the clear weakness was the vulnerability on the flanks, making them susceptible to opponents exploiting the space behind.
Bayern Munich's starting line-up was:
No. 1 Goalkeeper Neuer, No. 4 Center Back Dante, No. 17 Center Back Boateng, No. 28 Left Back Badstuber, No. 21 Right Back Lahm, No. 31 Back Schweinsteiger, No. 30 Back Gustavo, No. 7 Left Forward Ribery, No. 2 Right forward Muller, No. 39 Forward Kroos, and No. 14 center forward Pizarro.
On the substitutes' bench sat a lineup of stars including Robben, Martinez, Gomez, Mandzukic, Alaba, and Van Buyten.
In the 2012-2013 season, it wasn't Bayern's first-choice lineup that was terrifying; it was their substitutes' bench.
There's a saying: "Don't be afraid of Bayern's main players but afraid of Bayern's substitutes!"
Their bench depth surpassed not only the entire Bundesliga but also European football as a whole.
With such a rich pool of players, Bayern's flexibility and unpredictable plays presented quite a challenge for the opponents.
This match saw Bayern play in a 4-2-3-1 formation, featuring two roaming defensive midfielders at the back, four attacking players in the midfield and forward lines, and full-backs, with Lahm skilled at providing support from the flanks.
Learning from their previous match, Heynckes didn't position Lahm at left-back but instead entrusted Badstuber to mark Lin.
Notably, this indicated his hope to utilize Lin's strong defensive abilities to restrict his right-wing attacks.
Observing the opponent's lineup, Schaaf furrowed his brows.
Given Bayern's absolute strength, their balanced attacking and defensive formation was unshakable.
Their cautious approach and solid defense indicated that countering Werder Bremen's counterattacks wouldn't be easy.
Taking a glimpse at Bayern's coaching bench, Schaaf couldn't help but appreciate Heynckes' coaching abilities.
This season, Heynckes' ability to fine-tune Bayern's offense, defense, and overall team dynamics was evident.
Even with an array of star players, including notorious personalities such as Robben, each one adhered to Heynckes' authority and discipline.
Both teams' players were now at the player tunnel, eagerly waiting for the entrance.
At 15:25, the main referee led the teams onto the field.
As they entered, Pizarro, who had a long history with Werder Bremen and currently held the club's all-time goal-scoring record, kissed the turf upon stepping onto the Weser Stadium, eliciting cheers from fans.
Although his switch to a rival club disappointed fans, they understood his desire for further honors.
Switching to the live coverage of Werder Bremen's players' entrance, the crowd erupted in applause and cheers.
When Lin appeared on screen, the audience, led by the host, chanted his name enthusiastically.
Observing the young player's popularity at Weser Stadium, a less favored Pizarro couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy.
If he hadn't decided to leave, he might have been the one enjoying such adulation.
The coin toss saw Bayern win, choosing the field's right side over the kickoff.
As Werder Bremen started, De Bruyne passed to Arnautovic, quickly positioning himself forward.
However, with Arnautovic quickly cornered, he could not receive the ball. Lin received the pass and, noticing Bayern's defense, hesitated to avoid risking an interception.
Seeing no good opportunity, Lin passed to Junuzovic to pull Bayern's players out of position.
However, Bayern was prepared, maintaining a tight defensive line, preventing any vulnerability.
It became clear that breaking Bayern's solid defense and finding gaps in their lines would be challenging.
Pressured by the opponent, Werder Bremen players attempted risky forward passes.
Bayern's players effectively pressured and intercepted Werder Bremen's passes, disrupting their technical play.
Seeing no strategic advantage in a territorial fight, Werder Bremen retreated, adopting a defensive stance.
Observing the unexpected defensive approach at their home ground, Heynckes frowned.
Something would have reproached any team for this style of play if it wasn't Bayern Munich.
If Werder Bremen wasn't competing against Bayern Munich, they likely would have been booed for parking the bus.
Observing the large numbers of Bayern players in the frontcourt, he signaled the team to advance and launch an attack.
Watching eagerly, Schaaf anticipated Bayern's tactics.
With a myriad of attacking options, the prescription of Bayern's tactics remained unpredictable.
In the 5th minute, Muller advanced from the right flank and passed the ball inside, where Schweinsteiger capitalized on the opportunity, taking a shot from outside the box.
Luck was in Werder Bremen's favor as the shot narrowly missed the target.
Schweinsteiger's attempt caused anxiety among Werder Bremen's players, emphasizing Bayern's sudden forward play and the pressure on their defensive lines.
Feeling the pressure, Schaaf signaled his players to reinforce their defense outside the penalty area.
However, Schweinsteiger proved to be a formidable adversary.
In the 13th minute, Kroos dribbled past the defenders and then made a slanted pass to Ribery.
Ribery cut inside and dashed into the penalty area. Werder Bremen's defenders immediately closed in on him, blocking his shooting angle to prevent him from taking a shot.
However, Ribery had no intention to shoot in the first place. He swiftly maneuvered with the ball, evading the defenders and creating space, then suddenly passed the ball out of the penalty area.
Once again, it was Schweinsteiger who found himself at the edge of the penalty area, receiving the ball at an unexpected moment.
Immediately, Junuzovic rushed forward to block any long-range attempt. But this time, Ribery chose to advance with the ball instead of a long-range shot.
Due to his quick charge, Junuzovic was outpaced by Ribery. At this point, Schweinsteiger had already advanced into the penalty area.
Ribery's inward movement caused a slight right-leaning shift in Werder Bremen's defensive line.
This type of vulnerability is hard to spot for most players, but Ribery was no ordinary player. As the top midfielder in the Bundesliga, he quickly exploited this weakness!
When he saw Junuzovic moving in for the challenge, he had already planned how to execute the next attack.
Werder Bremen's left-back Fritz immediately abandoned his marking duty on Thomas Muller and rushed towards Schweinsteiger.
In an instant, Ribery passed the ball to Muller, who was unmarked.
Muller then passed the ball back, attempting a give-and-go play to get past Werder Bremen's team captain.
Ribery had already escaped from Fritz's interference, creating space. If he could receive Muller's pass, he would have a clear shot.
However, Muller's pass was chased down by Werder Bremen's defender Elia and disrupted the attack.
Although this Bayern attack didn't result in a shot on goal, it posed a greater threat than before.
Schaaf clenched his fists. He realized that Schweinsteiger was the core of Bayern's attack in this match!
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