Areas Where Bayern Munich Are Better Than Last Season

Three-and-a-half months into the 2015-16 campaign, Bayern Munich look to be an entirely different team from last season.

In 2014-15, although they had much success in the Bundesliga and won the title in May, Pep Guardiola's side struggled for consistency in the Champions League and DFB-Pokal. Their performance in elimination competitions, coupled with the fact that they had the worst head-to-head record among top-six Bundesliga finishers, was evidence that Bayern were missing something in the big games.

They managed to find that something over the summer, it seems. Aside from a slip-up away to Arsenal, the Bavarians have been dominant—especially in the toughest games.

They hammered fellow German Champions League sides Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg by an aggregate 8-1 score, and they beat the league's current second-placed side, Borussia Dortmund, 5-1. They also eliminated Pokal holders Wolfsburg from this year's edition of the German Cup with a 5-1 hiding.

Much of Bayern's success has to do with summer transfers and the return of some stars from injuries, but Guardiola's tactical changes have also played a critical role in the team's transformation.

MIGUEL RIOPA/Getty Images

To begin with, Bayern are playing a much faster brand of football. Much of this can be attributed to the departure of Bastian Schweinsteiger, who slowed down the pace of the game in midfield. The former vice-captain was a great player, but he usually took his time in making decisions and playing the ball forward.

In Schweinsteiger's absence, summer signing Arturo Vidal hasn't exactly injected urgency as might have been expected. But Thiago Alcantara has been a brilliant addition in the buildup and transition play from defense to attack. As well, Xabi Alonso's seemingly effortless distribution of the ball to the wings has been a huge benefit and makes him a good example of how even a player without much foot speed can influence the quickness of a team in catching their opponents off guard.

Beyond the midfield, Bayern are benefiting from incredible quickness in attack. Douglas Costa has probably been the best signing in all of Europe this season, the former Shakhtar Donetsk man bringing the same kind of quick dribbling and one-on-one skills that Franck Ribery once did. Before the Frenchman's signing in 2007, Bayern had had trouble breaking down stubborn defenses. And the same was true last season, as Ribery was often sidelined with injuries and never at 100 percent.

Costa has reintroduced the very same dimension to the Bayern attack that Ribery once brought, one that Xherdan Shaqiri and Mario Gotze failed to bring to the table last season.

"

Pep repaired his wings of Ribery and Robben with Douglas Costa and Kingsley Coman. What bargains they have proven to be.

— Melvyn (@mok08) November 4, 2015"

One only needs to look at Bayern's recent match against Stuttgart to see the effects of quick distribution and wingers with blistering pace. The first two goals, catalyzed by Costa's explosive runs, were perfect examples of how the current team can catch a team off guard even when the opponent is fully aware that their game plan will be, above all, to defend.

Aside from Costa, Kingsley Coman has been a huge addition to the Bayern attack in terms of the pace and skill he's brought to the wing. He's not yet on Costa's level, but despite being just 19 years of age, he's remarkably mature both in fitness and mentality, and he possesses excellent skill.

Guardiola in recent weeks has repeatedly used Costa, Coman and the similarly pacy Arjen Robben as wingers in the same lineup, along with Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski as more central players. In some cases, Bayern have not just "doubled up" on the wings, but used three players on one flank.

That brings us to the next area in which Bayern have markedly improved since last season: their use of width.

Last season, Bayern had precious little focus on the wings, partly due to necessity but also due to tactics. Ribery was often injured, and Philipp Lahm and David Alaba were rarely used in their natural full-back positions. Guardiola often opted for a three-man defense, without full-backs to support the attack, or didn't have more than one natural wide attacker available to play.

Michael Probst/Associated Press

This season, Lahm has reverted primarily to the role of right-back. He still joins in the midfield game, but that's no different from the way he has always played. Even at 32 years of age, he's still an improvement on Rafinha and has a lot to offer.

Alaba has played more often in the hybrid role of a center back who enters the midfield game, but in the more critical fixtures, he's been used at left-back. Take, for instance, the Pokal match against Wolfsburg in which the Austrian was sublime both in attack (he gave two assists) and in defense.

Although Juan Bernat had his bright moments last season, Alaba has been an upgrade in the big games at left-back this season. And regardless of which full-backs have played, the fact that Bayern's wingers have been supported by actual wide defenders has greatly improved the German champions' play out wide. The narrow variant of the 3-4-3 once used by Guardiola now appears to be a thing of the past.

Finally, any discussion of Bayern's improved state this season would be incomplete without a tip of the hat to Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski, who have been incredible this season and look to be at their best ever in Bayern shirts. No attacking pair has scored nearly as many goals as Bayern's prolific duo, who at club level have found the net 36 times in all competitions.

There's something to be said for tactics, but playing well only counts if you can score the goals needed to win. And Muller and Lewandowski have done just that.

Overall, Bayern are looking a much better team in 2015-16 than in the previous campaign. Their quickness, use of width and the prolific strike rate of their forwards are all interlinked, each an improvement on last season's side. If they keep on this level, Bayern will duly pick up silverware at season's end.

@Mr_Bundesliga