DFB Pokal – What We Learned – Bayern Munich 1 SV Darmstadt...

DFB Pokal – What We Learned – Bayern Munich 1 SV Darmstadt 0

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Bayern Munchen will head into the winter break with a tough but deserved 1-0 win in the DFB Pokal against SV Darmstadt courtsey of a Xabi Alonso goal on the 40th minute.

Bayern were without many of their star players including Mario Gotze, Douglas Costa, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.

SV Darmstadt did not prove a threat with only one shot on target out of their four shots for the whole 90 minutes. Nevertheless, Darmstadt did have Bayern on the counter-attack in the second half but only for their shot to be straight at Manuel Neuer.

Darmstadt has had a dream run in the DFB Pokal campaign but ultimately that came to a standstill. As for Bayern, they will have to wait and see who they will be playing in the last eight which will be announced on Wednesday.

Injuries? No problem

The interesting thing about this match is that most of Bayern’s superstars were missing such as the highly rated and World Cup winner Gotze, Douglas Costa (who has been in terrific form this season), Ribery and right winger Robben. It is crazy to think that Bayern can play the same style without these players. But with so many top class men sidelined, it still meant that Bayern played an almost full-strength team. Philip Lahm, Thomas Muller, Arturo Vidal and Robert Lewandowski were still in the starting lineup. It does mean that Bayern have depth in their squad. Depth means Bayern have a varity of game plans with different squads. Yet Bayern performed in typical Bayern fashion with precision, pinpoint passing and free-flowing football. You would never expect that they were missing so many players in such an important match. This match should send a warning not just towards their next opponents, whoever that might be, but also in the Bundesliga with Gotze, Ribery, Robben and Costa all set to return. Just imagine the dame these players can add.

SV Darmstadt’s run comes to an end

It was always going to be tough to face Bayern but at their home ground made it virtually impossible. Despite the fact that Bayern were missing a few superstars, Darmstadt did not really looke like getting a result. They only managed one shot on target for the whole 90 minutes, with only four shots at goal in total. They mainly played with 11 men behind the ball but even then, Bayern still looked like scoring. It was very rare to see Darmstadt attacking but when the eventually did, they simply struck towards Neuer who made comfortable save after comfortable save – it was either that or Bayern’s very trusty defence who would play off. Darmstadt could not match it with Bayern in every aspect. Ranked 12th in the Bundesliga, Darmstadt looked lacklustre in attack and did not have enough support when going forward. However, they did well to reach the last 16 of the DFB Pokal after defeating Hannover 96 and TuS Erndtebruck.

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