Analysis on how Bayern Munich wiped the floor with Plzen

Many questioned whether Pep Guardiola could continue the magnificent work done by his predecessor, Jupp Heynckes, when he took over at Bayern Munich in the summer. The Spaniard seems to have answered those questions impeccably though, as he sits comfortably on top of the Bundesliga and his Bayern side have walked through their opening three Champions League games without breaking sweat. The 5-0 demolition of Viktoria Plzen, last night, was reason enough to believe that Bayern could defend their European crown.

At kick-off Bayern were level on six points with Manchester City following the Mancunians’ 2-1 win in Moscow, but 90 minutes, 744 passes and 35 shots later, they were three points clear and look set to top Group D with considerable ease.

Guardiola didn’t have much work to do to an already stellar Bayern team but he has transformed them, nonetheless.

Their average possession in the Champions League this season is 64% after they controlled 69% of the ball last night. Their highest, and most successful, passer in Europe so far is Toni Kroos who has amassed 238 passes in three matches with a staggering success rate of 97% – a phenomenal number. Comparing that to the rest of the competition, Kroos has the best passing accuracy amongst the elite players to have passed the ball more than 105 times.

Bayern completed a sublime 90% of their passes against Plzen, finishing with 744 successful from 825 attempted. Munich also completed a mammoth 26 key passes on their way to a crushing 5-0 victory.

The home side completed 572 more passes than Plzen. That’s more passes than the average team often makes in a single game. Guardiola has got this stunningly devastating Bayern team – one of the best teams in recent memory – playing gorgeous passing football. As Brendan Rodgers once called it: ‘it’s death by football’.

Guardiola’s win was a complete and utter destruction of one of Europe’s minnows. Bayern had a total of 35 shots at Matus Kozacik‘s goal, scoring five of their 18 (yes, eighteen) shots on target. It’s a miracle for Viktoria that they lost just 5-0. Guardiola can’t have been disappointed about much of last night’s result but one would assume he’d have hoped his side scored more goals considering the opportunities they had.

In other areas, Bayern were successful with 60% of their corners (6/10), made 11 interceptions, won nine of 11 headed duels and 16 from 18 tackles. A sublime set of figures.

For 19.28% of the match, the ball was in the 18-yard to 30-yard area of the pitch (in Plzen’s half, obviously) – the busiest sector of the pitch.

The only negative on the evening was Bayern’s poor crossing; they completed just 13 of 33 crosses all night with them spread out between both the left and right wings.

At the other end, due to Munich’s complete control, Manuel Neuer was quite lonely. He made one punching clearance all night. That was it. Plzen’s only shot from distance was blocked a long time before Neuer had to even consider saving it.

In Squawka’s very own Performance Score ranking system, Bayern achieved a huge 1042, pushing them to the top of the rankings table, 523 points ahead of second-placed Paris-Saint Germain. In fact, Bayern’s score last night was the highest in any single Champions League match this season. PSG’s 665 from last night was the second highest. Prior to this match day it was Bayern who held the previous record of 586 in a single match.

Their possession score of 270 was 95 higher than PSG’s, who completed 67 more passes but 15 less key passes.

Viktoria Plzen at home was never going to worry Bayern but their performance was sublime. There are many occasions when commentators and pundits claim that a match ‘could have finished 10-0′, but Munich’s win last night should have been 10-0. A complete and utter demolition job completed by a team that looks in the groove and ready for another assault on Europe’s elite teams.

Be very afraid, Europe, Bayern are coming again.