Not the result Bayern Munich was hoping for.
We are seeing a common trend in recent years where traveling north into relatively new territory has become a difficult task for even the largest clubs. Think of Bodø/Glimt last season and now this match. Many will be quick to make the excuse of artificial turf, but these underdogs seem to turn up for the big occasion, and the result is great—for the neutrals, at least.
For Bayern fans, this is a nightmare they won't soon forget. Here are the awards from a deeply disappointing match for the Bavarians.
The Viking FK center-back opened the scoring just after the first minute of the match and set a real tone for the game. The Viking defense was incredibly well-orchestrated, largely thanks to Stensness. The Australian defender has been with the club since 2021, and you could tell just how fired up the crowd was to see him get that opening goal.
Stensness was sharp defensively, but a Bayern attack that seemed a bit off its usual game made it a bit easier than it should have been for the Viking defender.
There are countless honorable mentions that could be made here, as the Viking attack really flexed its muscles, but that felt more like a shared effort, whereas Stensness's impact felt like the greatest individual performance.
This feels like choosing the lesser of evils. Conceding multiple times to one of the biggest underdogs in the Champions League is never going to feel good. However, the entire backline is not to blame. The aerial presence was weak—as was evident on the first goal conceded—and the second goal was a brilliant counter by the home side; it happens.
The Austrian veteran's biggest contribution was his elite passing in this match, but his defensive work was incredibly sloppy. It feels harsh to say, but he was perhaps the best player in a messy defense today.
Kimmich and Bischof were simply not on the same wavelength in the first half. Their chemistry is nowhere close to that of Pavlović and Kimmich, which is a reflection of their lack of playtime together. Bischof seems best paired with Pavlović, as was evident in their time spent together during the international break under Jürgen Klopp.
While Kimmich is often the scapegoat during Bayern's failures, this one was not on him. Though not a perfect performance — blemished by some mistakes — his presence in the attacking half was brilliant, as is evident when you look at the numbers he put up in key passes, long balls, and expected assists.
Even when Olise doesn't score, he is almost always in the Man of the Match conversation. Olise simply brings immense talent and creates so much chaos for defenders. It doesn't always work, but he is by far the most creative and effective player in the attack.
Olise does not seem to have the same reliability from his teammates in the attack at the moment, but when Díaz, Gnabry, and Musiala are back at their best, the offense should be as well.
Is it controversial to have someone who was sent off as an award recipient? Perhaps, but his impact on the pitch is just that significant.
Ballon d'Or incoming. Regardless of whether or not you care about these individual awards, it is clear that Kane is a worthy recipient. The English legend was absolutely brilliant in this one and was let down by his fellow teammates.
Kane's ball-playing ability was reminiscent of his time with Tottenham and showed why he could be an elite number ten anywhere in the world. As great as his playmaking is, he was put onto the earth to score goals, and boy, does he ever do that.
Let's hope Kane doesn't get that itch to become an NFL kicker anytime soon, because once he does, he will leave a massive gap in this squad that won't soon be replaced.
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