Under Tuchel, FC Bayern is winning close games again

In the Champions League group stage, FC Bayern achieved a remarkable feat by winning four out of six matches by just a one-goal margin. 

These victories included both encounters with Manchester United, with scorelines of 4:3 and 1:0, as well as triumphs in Copenhagen and at home against Galatasaray, each ending with a 2:1 result. This achievement is significant for the German record champions, particularly when considering that only three other teams accomplished the same feat this season: Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid in the 2016/17 season, and Juventus Turin in the 2004/05 season, with the latter even managing to secure five such one-goal-margin wins.

This statistical trend can instill confidence in Bayern Munich as they advance to the knockout phase of the competition. It's a well-known fact that matches in the knockout stages tend to be closely contested, especially from the quarter-finals onward. In contrast, Bayern's performances in the Bundesliga have seen fewer one-goal-margin victories, with just two out of 13 matches ending with such a margin. This statistic underlines the team's ability to secure tight victories, which aligns with the trend established under coach Thomas Tuchel.

However, Bayern will face a challenge in the coming weeks as they will be without their specialist for achieving 1-0 victories, Kingsley Coman. Coman has been instrumental in scoring crucial 1-0 goals in the Champions League, including one that secured the final victory over Paris Saint-Germain in 2020. Unfortunately, Coman suffered a calf injury following his decisive 1-0 goal in Manchester and has been diagnosed with a muscle fiber tear. Among Bayern players, only Robert Lewandowski (21 times), Thomas Müller (16 times), and Giovane Elber (10 times) have achieved such feats more often in the Champions League. Notably, Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben, and Roy Makaay have also achieved this as many times as Coman.

As Bayern prepares to face VfB Stuttgart and VfL Wolfsburg before the holiday break, it will be crucial for Coman's teammates to step up in his absence. Jamal Musiala is expected to play in the number ten role, with Leroy Sané likely taking one of the wings. The last open position offers Tuchel several options, including Thomas Müller, who may rotate with Musiala in the middle, Mathys Tel, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, or Raphael Guerreiro, who could have a rotation on the left side with Alphonso Davies. These matches will be an opportunity for the team to demonstrate their ability to maintain their one-goal-margin victories in domestic competition.