Bayern Munich Relinquish Defensive Shape for All-out Attack in Leverkusen Win

The last round of Bundesliga matches saw Bayern Munich overcome Hoffenheim in a tightly contested game of football that could have very easily gone either way. Yet fans of opposing sides in the Bundesliga had seen it all before. Despite going a goal and a man down, Pep Guardiola's side still managed to find a last-minute winner to seal all three points and continue what seems like a never-ending undefeated run. 

For Bayern's critics, Saturday offered much more hope. Not only were the Bavarian giants missing Jerome Boateng through suspension and Mehdi Benatia through injury, but they were coming up against a fearless Bayer Leverkusen side under the smart, composed leadership of Roger Schmidt.

This was going to be the first real test of Guardiola and his team in the 2015/16 season. No more would Bayern trip over obstacles and continue to land on their feet.

Such anticipation for the German champions' first stumble of the season was notable up until kick-off, when Guardiola revealed his side would be starting the match without a single central defender. Rather than draft Dante in to replace Boateng or Benatia, the former Barcelona coach instead opted to play a back-line of full-backs—Philipp Lahm, David Alaba and Juan Bernat—behind the ever-watchful eye of Xabi Alonso in midfield.

Against the towering presence of Leverkusen striker Stefan Kiessling and his accompanying wingers, Karim Bellarabi and Hakan Calhanoglu, Bayern looked as though they were in store for a testing afternoon of shaky, defensive football. 

THOMAS KIENZLE/Getty Images

Yet what followed couldn't have been more different. Instead, Guardiola's side battered the old factory squad from start to finish, leaving the perception of Bayern's defensive line as frail and exposed as no more than an afterthought.

At no point did Leverkusen look as though they could match their opponents in a packed, vibrant Allianz Arena. Guardiola and his side passed their first real test of the Bundesliga campaign with flying colours.

Rather than reinforce a shaky defence, Guardiola instead opted to push forward with his offensive line. In the Bayern manager's mind, the best form of defence was indeed attack, and that was evident from the manner in which Bayern were set up on Saturday evening. 

With three attack-minded full-backs making up the defence, Guardiola's midfield consisted of Thiago Alcantara and Arturo Vidal behind frontman Thomas Muller. Arjen Robben and Douglas Costa roamed each wing. In truth, not only were Bayern without any central defenders, but they also had very few defensive players in midfield or on either wing.

The German champions may have been forced to pick specific players through injury and suspension, but Guardiola certainly didn't rest on his laurels. 

It took Bayern just 25 minutes to break through Leverkusen's defensive line, when a long ball found Costa on the left wing. In a fashion befitting of the impressive Brazilian, Costa glided past a baffled Roberto Hilbert to cross the ball to an awaiting Muller, who tapped the ball past Bernd Leno. 

The next goal wouldn't come until midway through the second half, when Vidal was fouled from a corner, allowing Muller to double his tally and Bayern's lead from the penalty spot. Leverkusen gave away another penalty from a Hilbert handball minutes later. This time, Robben stepped up and calmly slotted the ball away to make it three and a job well done for his side.

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

Although Guardiola's teams have always been renowned for their flair and preference for an attacking style, Saturday's lineup suggested a gung-ho approach to overcome shortcomings at the back. For even though Leverkusen possess one of the best squads in the Bundesliga, even they couldn't get close to the porous defensive line that stood before Manuel Neuer's goalmouth.

Augsburg await Guardiola's team, where a similar game plan will undoubtedly unfold before the Munich crowd. Yet eagle-eyed critics and fans of this Bayern side will wonder just how far such a tactic can take the German champions this season. 

A quick blitz of vulnerable Bundesliga teams may work from one week to the next in the league, but Arsenal, Olympiacos and Dinamo Zagreb await Bayern in the Champions League and presumably even stronger sides if Guardiola's team makes it through to the latter rounds.

Yet for now, three points will suit the Munich side just perfectly. A seamless Bundesliga campaign remains on course through a convincing style of football that worries not for defensive football but rather all-out attack.