Three Key Observations From Bayern Munich's Thrilling 6-1 Victory Over Holstein Kiel

Bayern Munich came out guns blazing as club football made a return, moving atop the Bundesliga table for the first time in over a year by securing a 6-1 win over newly-promoted Holstein Kiel. The floodgates opened within the very first seconds as Jamal Musiala put Bayern ahead and two goals in quick succession from Harry Kane and Kiel’s own defender saw Bayern take an early 3-0 lead before the 15-minute mark.

Kane made it two with an effortless strike before the break. Micheal Olise added a fifth in the second half only for Kiel to score one back, but Kane finished the job and converted his penalty to record his first hat trick of the new season. Here are some observations from the game.

Bayern's Brilliant Build-Up Play

There is no doubt today that Kiel was astronomically poor. They had glaring holes in their structure, made it far too easy for Bayern to create chances, and messed up early on in the game setting the tone for Bayern players to run rounds around the Kiel defense. Nonetheless, a lot of Bayern’s build-up particularly in the first half was brilliantly done. In particular, the passing was great.

Direct Forward Passing

Bayern constantly made an effort to play longer balls and make direct, vertical passes—something Bayern teams of late have missed. Kiel did make it easier for Bayern to play those passes, but it was nice to see the players actually make the best possible move in most situations instead of simply passing sideways. There was a sense of urgency and attacking direction tonight that has not always been there from the Bayern midfield.

Player Performances

It will be interesting to see how Aleksandar Pavlović fits in this kind of setup, with such an emphasis on direct forward passing—an area in which the youngster excels. This was far from the ideal game plan, however. Bayern's many lapses in concentration led to the team losing possession often, and a better team would have punished Bayern rather than allowing them to win back the ball as easily as they did.

Serge Gnabry has not been the easiest player to praise for a long time, but it seems that he is slowly beginning to find his groove again this season. Gnabry’s constant explosive runs were a focal point of Bayern’s attack in the first half and led to many chances being created off quick cutbacks and crosses into the box. It is a shame that Gnabry didn't get his own name on the scoresheet, because he certainly deserved a goal tonight.

Harry Kane's Impact

Vincent Kompany’s new system allows Kane to play his natural game more and work simultaneously as a creator in the final third and a finisher. Kane’s superb performance—and hat-trick—tonight was a testament to the same, proving again that he can do both better than most can do one. Musiala was as explosive as ever and his performance was a continuation of his form with the national team, responding clearly to France Football and other critics after he was left out of the 30-man nominee list for the Ballon d’Or.

The Next Steps

On the bright side, at least this tie did not end in the same fashion as the one on a cold windy DFB-Pokal night in January 2021. Certainly not revenge, but it was far more pleasing. That’s it for tonight! Next up, the Champions League. Looking for more thoughts and analysis on Bayern Munich’s massive 6-1 blowout of Holstein Kiel in the Bundesliga? Great, then we have just what you need with our Bavarian Podcast Works – Postgame Show available on Patreon, Spotify.