After four Bundesliga games without a win in a row, FC Bayern is in a crisis mood. Especially on the offensive, the Munich team has been too harmless for weeks. While goals were still being scored like on an assembly line at the start of the season, Bayern’s offensive engine stuttered violently. Sadio Mané in particular continues to fall short of expectations.
Bayern have fired 34 shots at goal in the last four Bundesliga games, only four of which have ended up in the net. For comparison: In the 6-1 win against Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayern only needed ten shots on goal for six goals.
Bayern have been struggling with their poor exploitation of chances for weeks. Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann seemed at a loss after the 1-0 defeat against FC Augsburg when asked about the ongoing offensive problems. The 35-year-old is anything but satisfied: “We have to use our one-on-one situations in front of the goalkeeper to win games. If we don’t do it, we don’t win. Actually quite simple. It’s a matter of technique. You have to do it differently when you meet the goalkeeper like that.”
xG stats reveal Bayern’s offensive problems
Most recently, Sadio Mané in particular came under criticism from fans, the media and experts. The Senegalese has three goals in seven Bundesliga games but has not scored a single goal in the past four games. From a purely statistical point of view, Mané is currently the weakest Bayern attacker. According to the portal “Understat” the expected goals value for the 30-year-old is 4.67. In plain language: Mané should have had almost two more goals on his account in view of his chances.
Leroy Sane’s xG value is 3.10, the 26-year-old has two goals in seven games. Thomas Müller also has a need for action in terms of efficiency. With 502 minutes, the original Bavarian has the most Bundesliga playing times of all Bayern strikers, but only scores one goal with an xG value of 2.29.
Jamal Musiala is currently Bayern’s best and most efficient goalscorer. The DFB youngster scored four goals with an xG value of 3.02. Particularly noteworthy: The 19-year-old was on the pitch for 420 minutes, less than Müller, Mané (495) or Sane (450).
Serge Gnabry and Mathys Tel also have positive xG values: Gnabry scores two goals (xG 1.45) and Tel one goal with an xG value of 0.82. However, both have received significantly less service time. Gnabry has 281 minutes, the France youngster has played 91 minutes in the league so far.
