I’ve planned to do one of these “running diaries” a couple of times lately, but it hasn’t quite worked out. If Reyna had started for BVB yesterday it would have been about that game. There was a Chelsea game a while back too, but Pulisic didn’t start that one. Does an American have to start for me to write one of these? Yes. Adams is indeed getting the start for Leipzig today though, so full steam ahead.
It’s a huge game between these two today and I really hope Leipzig wins. Bayern winning the Bundesliga is extremely dull. Unfortunately, it seems like every time I tune in to Bayern vs. Team X, Bayern wins like 5-1.
If you are only a Bayern or Leipzig fan than the American fan tone of this might get annoying to you. *shrugs* Here we go.
1st Minute: Leipzig looks overly hyped so far. If I’ve learned anything from movie drug dealers it’s don’t use your own product.
4th Minute: Bayern’s going to score soon aren’t they? *sigh*
Still 4th Minute: Holy crap. Alphonso Davies (who will henceforth be referred to as Phonzie) just ran down Olmo on a counter like he was standing still. Dude is fast. I’m jealous of you, Canada.
5th Minute: Bayern almost scores on a Thiago curler. Adams looks like he’s doing the RB/CM thing btw. Berhalter is somewhere snickering into his turtleneck.
8th Minute: Leipzig is reminding me a little of the USMNT when they play Brazil, Argentina, etc. They just can’t calm down and get out of their own way. Can’t complete three passes in a row right now.
11th Minute: Davies undresses Upamecano (who is really good) and puts in a dangerous cross. I don’t know how Bayern haven’t scored yet.
13th Minute: Adams’ passing has been awful. I’m sad.
16th Minute: I didn’t know that Pitbull played for RB Leipzig. (It’s Angelino btw) Leipzig are settling down a little and getting into the game a bit now.
17th Minute: Dear lord…Phonzie just killed a man. Then he gets by Adams and doesn’t quite connect on the cross. So good.
22nd Minute: You know that thing I said about Leipzig getting into the game? Forget I said that.
24th Minute: The USMNT…I mean RB Leipzig just strung a few passes together and got a shot. There’s hope?
27th Minute: Adams is being wasted on the right side. He’s not getting into midfield enough and that’s where his burst causes problems. Nagelsmann is being too clever.
30th Minute: Nice pass from Adams, good run/cross Klosterman, and Leipzig nearly scores. Jerome Boateng’s corpse with a nice play to cut it out.
34th Minute: Quick cut to Jogi Low. Disappointingly, his hands are in his pockets and not down his pants, in his nose, or in his mouth.
35th Minute: Neuer drills Kimmich in the back with a goal kick. Lol.
38th Minute: Bayern have several guys that seem like they’d be douche-bags. Lewandowski, Muller, and Neuer all look like they need to be punched in the face.
39th Minute: Lewandowski somehow doesn’t score. How does the most dangerous striker in the world not have anyone marking him? Leipzig go the other way and Pitbull’s cross is blocked out for a corner. Entertaining stuff. đ
45th Minute: Leipzig are on a sorta counter and Werner doesn’t get the ball played to him. He then stays offside and complains about it for a bit. Stop being a tool and get back onside.
Halftime
Bayern was definitely the better of the two teams, but didn’t have a ton of clear chances. Leipzig has gotten into the game and has a realistic chance at getting something from this game.
Adams started out the game poorly, but has grown into it with the team. I still don’t like him on the side of the field. He’s not dangerous in that winger/overlapping fullback space and he isn’t impacting the game much defensively.
46th Minute: About six balls in a row bounce Leipizig’s way and Sabitzer has a clear look at goal, but he Wondolowski’s it over the bar. That was a high xG chance.
49th Minute: Bayern with some issues. Adams almost blocks Neuer’s long ball, then Neuer whiffs on the ball, and Werner has his shot on the open goal blocked by Alaba. Neuer then puts Werner’s arm down for him and reprimands him for asking for a corner.
52nd Minute: Werner skins Boateng, but nothing comes of the cross. Bayern is then off the other way. This is great. I love soccer and the Bundesliga.
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53rd Minute: Goretzka plays a ball I’d be a little embarrassed by (I’m the worst player on my Wednesday night men’s team btw) straight out of bounds.
54th Minute: Penalty to Bayern. Lewandowski gets fouled and falls in ridiculous fashion. Looks likely to be called back though, since Lewandowski was offside. Yup. Offside.
60th Minute: Coutinho is getting ready to come in off the bench. Think he regrets forcing his way out of Liverpool yet? Comes on for Gnabry, who was barely noticeable on the field.
63rd Minute: Werner dribbles out of bounds and then acts mildly hurt. Injuries always hurt worse when you screw up. Timo seems like one of those guys that no one really likes, but he’s so good you put up with him on your team anyway.
Still 63rd Minute: If Leipzig lose this game Werner should be transferred to FC Siberia. After complaining all game about his service, he gets the ball on a silver platter one on one with the keeper and shoots wide. Nkuku has been good.
73rd Minute: Things have settled down since that Werner chance. Bayern have brought on Lucas Hernandez for Boateng, Hernandez being yet another all universe center back from France. Can we have one over here in the US, please?
75th Minute: I could certainly be wrong, but it feels like we’re headed for a 0-0 draw here. These games should come with warning labels. Although, to be fair, this has been entertaining even without scoring.
78th Minute: Muller with a hilariously bad cross. It actually went to Nkuku…who is playing right forward for Leipzig. đ
80th Minute: Goretzka and Lewandowski combine to put Goretzka thru on goal, but Gulasci makes a great save. Bayern’s best chance of the game.
84th Minute: Sunday afternoon nap is calling…hanging on…
85th Minute: Kingsley Coman coming on for Goretzka. Bayern going for it?
90th Minute: Leipzig looks like they’re cool with a point and will just try to safely play this out. Three minutes of added time coming.
92nd Minute: A great outside of the foot pass from Upamecano puts Leipzig out on the break, but Kimmich gets back to cut out the cross.
FULL TIME
Thoughts?
Bayern was the better team in the first half and Leipzig was the better team in the second half. I don’t have the xG numbers, but I’d guess that it would favor Leipzig by a tad. Like I said at the beginning, in my experience, Bayern usually crush the other “challenger” in these games. That RB Leipzig played them even and got a point out of it bodes well for an interesting end to the Bundesliga this year. Even if Bayern end up winning it would be nice to have a title race for a change.
Adams?
Tyler was pretty anonymous for me in this one. I thought he struggled for the first 15 minutes or so, but then settled down with the rest of the team. He had a couple nice passes and pressed effectively a time or two, but nothing remarkable. Nagelsmann has forgotten more soccer than I’ll ever know, but I still don’t like Adams on the right. He’s more influential and can be more disruptive in the middle. I hope Berhalter agrees with me.
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