The Terrifying Bayern

Gerd Muller has been bothered by Bayern's loss to Chelsea in the Champions League final last season. In that game, Bayern dominated but couldn't score. 

Players like Robben, Ribery, Gomez, and Muller missed chances, leading to a penalty shootout loss.

If they had a player like Lin, sharp in small-scale dribbling, skilled at breakthroughs, and positioning, last season's outcome might have been different.

After falling behind, Bayern launched a relentless counterattack. 

They seemed to have discarded thoughts of conserving energy for the upcoming Champions League game and attacked Werder Bremen furiously, like a raging lion pouncing on its prey.

Bayern's assault was relentless, repeatedly challenging Werder Bremen's defense like relentless waves crashing against a small boat in a storm. 

In an attempt to protect their goal, almost all of Werder Bremen's players retreated to their own half, even forward Arnautovic dropped back to participate in defense, leaving Bayern's half wide open.

The game was completely in Bayern's control. They incessantly threatened Werder Bremen's goal. 

However, Bayern's luck seemed off. In the entire first half, they had 11 shots, but only three were on target. 

Consequently, they ended the first half trailing by one goal, feeling the pressure.

Werder Bremen led but there was no joy in their camp. The players were visibly exhausted. 

Bayern's fierce offensive in the latter stages of the first half was intimidating. Only their relentless running and active defensive efforts helped Werder Bremen maintain their defensive line. 

This, however, took a toll on their energy levels.

At this rate of fatigue, they wouldn't be able to hold out for the entire second half. The players were drained after just one half of play, facing unprecedented fatigue.

In the dressing room, the team's physiotherapist was massaging and relaxing the players. Coach Schaaf discussed the second half's tactics with the players. 

He praised their first-half performance but warned them to stay focused as Bayern would intensify their attacks in the second half, with players like Robben and Gomez posing even tougher challenges.

The players nodded in agreement, acknowledging the difficulty Ribery posed in the first half, particularly making them wary of Robben's potential impact. The coach detailed the plan for the second half as the players listened attentively.

At the same time, in the visitors' dressing room, after finalizing the tactics for the second half, Coach Heynckes had a conversation with the team's forward Pizarro. 

He emphasized the need for experienced players like Pizarro to step up in the face of adversity.

Pizarro promised to follow the coach's instructions. 

Heynckes informed him about his plan to substitute him around the 60th minute and urged him to exhaust the opponents' defenders, stressing the importance of player endurance in deciding the match's outcome.

Heynckes had noticed Werder Bremen's issues with stamina and planned to make substitutions around the 60th minute to take advantage of the opponents' fatigue. 

Pizarro and Kroos were the ones planned for substitutions. He wanted both players to aggressively press and tire the opponents' defenders.

Pizarro listened to the coach's words and nodded, although he felt disappointed. He was aware that, in Bayern, he was just a rotation player and not as crucial as when he played for Werder Bremen.

The second half began with Bayern increasing their pace. The ball was constantly moving inside Werder Bremen's penalty area, testing the team's defense once more.

Coach Schaaf observed with concern. He could sense Bayern's increased aggression and noted Kroos and Pizarro's relentless running and attacking, creating trouble for Werder Bremen's defense.

Due to intense defense, Werder Bremen even received a yellow card. Schaaf looked towards the opposite dugout, speculating about Coach Heynckes's intentions. Bayern's bench was deep, and Schaaf knew substitutions would be made in the second half. 

Around the 60th minute, the fourth official raised the substitution board, and Bayern initiated changes. Number 10, Robben, replaced number 39, Kroos. Number 9, Mandzukic, was brought on for number 14, Pizarro.

Schaaf stood up when he saw the substitutions and was surprised by Mandzukic being brought on instead of Gomez. 

Historically, Gomez had recovered from a thigh injury and was in good form, so Schaaf was unsure why Heynckes opted for Mandzukic instead.

After Robben and Mandzukic's entry, Bayern's strategy changed. Robben and Ribery worked in tandem, with Robben launching aggressive breakthroughs and inside cuts on the right flank.

Werder Bremen's defense, especially Elia, who was already fatigued, couldn't contain his opponent and was repeatedly bypassed. Furthermore, with Mandzukic in the penalty area, Bayern's aerial threat had greatly increased!

Just five minutes into the game, Mandzukic had two very threatening shots!

Schaaf realized the danger and quickly made a personnel change. He took out Elia and brought in Lukimya to use his height and strong physical qualities to limit Mandzukic.

At the same time, he instructed Captain Fritz to move up from left-back to a defensive midfielder position, forming a double pivot to enhance protection in front of the penalty area.

However, this strategy didn't work well. After Elia was substituted, Robben found more space on the right flank.

In the 75th minute, Robben swiftly ran with the ball on the right, then after exchanging positions with Ribery, made a sudden cross to the middle and found Mandzukic in the penalty area.

Mandzukic could have taken the shot himself, but instead, after controlling the ball with his chest, he set up Ribery with a clever pass.

Ribery didn't waste the opportunity created by his teammate. He took a powerful shot and scored, leveling the score for Werder Bremen!

Their lead, held for most of the game, was gone!