AC Milan vs. Bayern Munich: Things Learned from Audi Cup
Bayern Munich continued their preparations for the new Bundesliga season with a stellar 3-0 win over AC Milan on Tuesday night at the Allianz Arena.
In the first round of the biennial Audi Cup, the Bavarian giants truly showed their worth in a match that did little to suggest the fallen Italian giants have hope of catching Europe's top guns anytime soon.
Goals from Mario Gotze, Robert Lewandowski and Juan Bernat capped an evening in which Pep Guardiola's side were able to go through the motions they'd been practising in training with very little bother from their guests.
Here's what we took from the one-sided match.
Pep Still Hates Strikers
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In almost typical fashion for Bayern these days, Pep Guardiola set up his side in a 3-3-3-1 formation to take on the might of Milan.
This meant a back three, three central midfielders and then three attacking midfielders, but then it also meant the only actual striker on the pitch for the German champions was Mario Gotze—a midfielder by trade.
Guardiola has always been known for his disinterest in standout strikers—often choosing to play false nines at Barcelona—and Tuesday night was no different. If he gets the opportunity, he'd rather just stick another midfielder in.
Bayern Look Much Sharper Without Xabi Alonso
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Bayern managed to nab three goals Tuesday night, but they looked particularly slick against Milan in the opening 45 minutes of the game.
Much of that came down to the starting lineup of Joshua Kimmich, Sebastian Rode and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the middle of the park, all of whom looked full of life, pace and as sharp as any opponent on the day.
Another factor was the absence of Xabi Alonso, who had been overlooked for the start of the game. Although the senior Spaniard is still a crucial part of Bayern's squad, the notable difference between the side when he is and isn't on the pitch is clear for all to see.
Bayern look sharper and far quicker when Alonso isn't dictating the play, and it's about time Pep Guardiola noticed that.
Pep Is Still Determined to Play with 3 at the Back
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Although Bayern may have finished Tuesday's game with a four-man defence, Pep Guardiola once again opted for a back three against the club's Italian visitors.
Such a move will, of course, have surprised very few in the Allianz Arena that night, as the former Barcelona manager continues to experiment with the defensive tactic whenever possible.
Although Bayern still tend to play a safer back four or back five with two wing-backs in tighter, competitive games, there's no denying that this manager would ideally play with just three defenders in every game.
Milan Look Sub-Standard
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Bayern and their manager will be mighty pleased with the manner in which the club dispatched Milan and finished Tuesday night with a conclusive win, yet if there was one disappointment for the fans in the stadium, it would have been the quality of the visitors.
Once a club that dominated the European game, Sinisa Mihajlovic's side looked slow, unfit and never up to the task of matching Bayern in any aspect of the game, which was acknowledged by the Rossoneri coach.
"They are solid and road-tested, while we didn't put in any intensity," Mihajlovic said, per ESPN FC. "We've got to improve, and we are working to improve."
Rather than a contest between two sides, it was often just a matter of Bayern choosing to walk up the park and score, rather than having to work their way through an opposing defence.
This Milan side may not be fully fit for the new season, but they're certainly nowhere near Bayern's level of quality either.
