Why Alonso Is the Bayern Munich Player with Most to Prove After Dortmund Game

Bayern Munich scrapped their way to a 1-0 win against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday night in a gritty performance that highlighted their versatility.

Known for "champagne football" under Pep Guardiola, the German giants were decimated by injuries and the former Barcelona trainer opted to field nine defensive players along with tireless forwards Thomas Muller and match-winner Robert Lewandowski. There was no creative midfielder in the form of Franck Ribery or Mario Gotze.

As discussed in this article, Guardiola's plan was a huge success. Bayern barely exceeded 50 percent of the touches on the ball during the match and conceded more than twice as many shots as they took but got their winner through a shot of efficiency and Lewandowski's quickness to nod in the rebound from Muller's parried attempt.

The Dortmund faithful have complained about refereeing decisions during the match and have some legitimate grievances, but in fairness, their complaints cannot overshadow the fact that their side lost at home to as ordinary a Bayern side as they could face.

The visitors had plenty of world-class talent on the pitch, but if there was ever a chance to overcome them, it was against the lineup Guardiola fielded on Saturday.

From Bayern and Guardiola's perspective, there were positives and negatives to take away. One positive was the fact that they are apparently still able to win with sheer tenacity and good effort. It wasn't the 4-0 against Barcelona that Jupp Heynckes achieved, but it was surprising to see a Guardiola team with so little of the possession and putting in so great an effort in terms of sprints and ground covered.

As a team, Bayern managed to adapt quite well to their new tactics. One player who struggled, however, was Xabi Alonso. The 33-year-old was visibly not up to the physical challenge of the fast-paced and frenetic game, and from his technical area, Guardiola didn't hide his frustration with his veteran compatriot.

Alonso was lucky not to see yellow for a challenge early in the first half and was later booked for pulling back Shinji Kagawa. In the end, he was rather fortunate to remain on the pitch and not be sent off for what would not have been the first time this season.

He also slipped under pressure in the second half, conceding a good chance for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and the BVB attack to level the score.

Bayern were also forced into a fast-paced game against Shakhtar Donetsk in February, a game in which Alonso was sent off after just over an hour. In that game, he also was beaten for pace and forced to make a desperate challenge.

The situation has repeated itself again and again this season: Although great in possession, Alonso is a defensive liability. And with both Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm fit to play, one must question whether Alonso is needed as a starter. Bayern may get away with some dubious calls in the Bundesliga, but in the latter stages of the Champions League they will not be so lucky.

What at first appeared to be a "Bermuda triangle" of three defensive midfielders (Alonso, Schweinsteiger and Lahm) capable of holding possession and frustrating opponents in effect turned out to be rather ineffective at keeping the ball. Bayern were forced to defend, to chase, and that did not suit the aging Alonso.

On the other hand, Thiago Alcantara made his return for the final 21 minutes in his first performance in over a year, and he looked quite capable in his role. The 23-year-old was like a magnet to the ball and added a new dimension to Bayern's game in possession.

Like Alonso, Thiago has never been known for his defensive abilities. On the other hand, he is a much more creative player and is far more useful transitioning from defense to attack than the former Real Madrid man.

Given that Lahm, Schweinsteiger and Alonso all share similar qualities in building up play from deep areas without particular pace, Thiago could substitute any of the three and add some stylistic diversity to the midfield.

In other situations, one might worry about Thiago being a defensive liability. But that point has become moot considering that Alonso again and again has proven the same of himself. And while the 33-year-old isn't going to get any better at this point in his career, Thiago may develop yet. He has the quickness, in any case.

It's not ideal for Bayern to depend on Thiago at this point, given that the youngster has only just returned from a very long absence. He will inevitably have his ups and downs as he embarks on a long recovery, and Bayern will have to be especially careful to avoid him sustaining yet another debilitating injury.

On the other hand, he's certainly the future of Bayern's midfield if he can stay fit. And with Alonso struggling, the retired Spain international will know he'll need to step up his game or face the bench. At this point, even Sebastian Rode may be a more reliable option.

At present, there's still time for Alonso to convince before Thiago is ready to rejoin the starting lineup. The veteran still has time to prove that he has the engine to keep up with a fast-paced game, at least more than Schweinsteiger or Lahm. But the clock is ticking, and the pressure is now on more than ever.

@Mr_Bundesliga