Bayern Munich vs. Dinamo Zagreb: Winners and Losers from Champions League Game
Bayern Munich created a three-point gap atop the table in Champions League Group F on Tuesday as they hammered Dinamo Zagreb 5-0 at the Allianz Arena. The win snapped a 45-game unbeaten run for the Croatian side as the hosts made it six points from two games, leaving them three clear of both Zagreb and Olympiakos.
Douglas Costa scored the opener for Bayern, but Robert Lewandowski was man of the match for netting goals Nos. 2, 4 and 5. Mario Gotze had the third.
Following Tuesday's action, B/R runs the rule over the winners and losers. Click "Begin Slideshow" for our picks.
Losers: Eduardo and Alexandru Matel
1 of 5
Zagreb were always going to find it difficult against Bayern, but the manner in which they capitulated was both avoidable and embarrassing. The first two goals conceded came down to amateurish mistakes, the opener (and most important, as it broke the deadlock and greatly shifted the balance of pressure) being as Douglas Costa scored from a very tight angle, beating goalkeeper Eduardo at the near post.
The Zagreb custodian didn't have a whole lot of support, but he conceded five goals on the night and was rather humiliated by Costa as well as Lewandowski's chipped effort for his hat-trick. It will be a night to forget for Eduardo.
At the same time, Alexandru Matel also had an absolute nightmare for the hosts. He was responsible for marking Costa, who was an ever-present thorn in the side of the Zagreb defense before his second-half substitution. During his time on the pitch, Costa ran riot, passing his opposite with Franck Ribery-like ease.
Winner: Robert Lewandowski
2 of 5
Robert Lewandowski scored five goals a week ago, then two more on Saturday. And then on Tuesday, it took him 28 minutes to net two more. In the second half, he rounded off his hat-trick with a cheeky, lobbed finish. The Poland international is absolutely on fire at the moment and has shown no signs of slowing down. Actually, he's a bit unlucky not to have scored more.
Lewandowski’s performance in the thrashing of Zagreb is just another feather in his cap. Many still feel there are better strikers in world football, but with each passing game, the question has to be asked: How much longer until the vote becomes unanimous?
Winner: Thiago Alcantara
3 of 5
With Xabi Alonso in brilliant form and Arturo Vidal having been signed in the summer, Thiago Alcantara’s stock at the Allianz Arena hasn’t been at its highest as of late. The Bavarians have, in fact, looked as though they could do just fine without him, or at least without him at or near his best.
The Zagreb match was a statement for Thiago, who pushed forward to attack and made a big impact on the game. He was quick to pounce on a defensive error and set up Lewandowski for Bayern’s second. Then, he played in the striker to chip for the goal that completed his hat-trick.
Winner: Douglas Costa
4 of 5
Although Lewandowski's name will grace the headlines for his hat-trick, Douglas Costa was absolutely colossal for Bayern and once again proved he absolutely must start even when his team's superstars are all fit.
Costa scored the all-important opener, assisted Lewandowski's second goal and played a clever pass to Thiago ahead of the striker's third. The Brazilian winger was at the center of almost every Bayern attack prior to his substitution on the hour mark; his tricky movement on and off the ball, combined with his blistering pace, made him impossible to defend against.
Winners: Bayern’s Squad Players
5 of 5
Kingsley Coman, Joshua Kimmich, Juan Bernat and Mario Gotze are all benchwarmers in a fully fit Bayern team, yet because of a combination of injuries and squad rotation, Pep Guardiola opted to field all four in his starting lineup against Zagreb.
Many teams would have struggled, but Bayern didn’t miss a beat and were 4-0 up inside half an hour. Gotze was on target for Bayern’s third, but Coman looked dangerous bombing up the flank, and Kimmich looked more a veteran Champions League regular than a newcomer making his first start in Europe’s greatest club tournament.
Having a deep squad with many options capable of stepping up to deliver is hugely important for a team with title ambitions in several competitions, and Bayern seem to have no trouble bringing squad players into the first team when needed. It would be easy to reference specific details and statistics, but the definitive proof is in how easily they walked to victory on Tuesday night.
