Bayern Munich travelled to Bayer Leverkusen \u2014 an early trial against their DFB-Pokal opponents whom they will face in ten days. The situation in Munich has been rather tense despite recent wins with an injury list that could qualify the Bavarians to run a hospital.<\/p>\n
The tension built up culminated in Bayern\u2019s worst game of the season against Leverkusen. With two goals ruled out by handball and two players dismissed, the two goal game ended after ten minutes of added-time. The goal from Luis Diaz gives Bayern a point, placing them nine points clear of Borussia Dortmund.<\/p>\n
Here are the standout performers from tonight\u2019s nightmare of a game.<\/p>\n
Jersey Swap \u2014 Upper Limbs The refereeing Aleix Garcia<\/p>\n
The story behind this game begins 375 million years ago \u2014 the Late Devonian period.<\/p>\n
Fossils discovered in Canada in 2004 show the existence of fish such as the Tiktaalik (375 million years ago) with fins that had wrist-like bones. The Tiktaalik could prop itself up in shallow waters using these fins. The modern forelimb\/upper limbs evolved from the pectoral fins of the fish.<\/p>\n
Then, 365 million years ago, the formation of early tetrapods showed digits. Devonian tetrapods basically initiated the formation of the mammalian upper and lower limbs, which have refined forelimb mobility. Further down the evolutionary conveyor belt, hominins developed only 6 million years ago. The tribe hominins consist of humans, chimpanzees and bonobos and they became capable of using tools with their hands.<\/p>\n
The story of the upper limb is hence a story that is nearly 375 million years old, and the point I am trying to make with this story is, I blame the fish and the tetrapods for Bayern\u2019s scoreline.<\/p>\n
If it was fair to give the jersey swap to human parts, I would certainly give it to the upper limbs. It is simply unbelievable that Bayern could have TWO goals ruled out in the same game because of handballs. Interestingly yet, both handballs were off the elbow joint \u2014 and the primitive form of the elbow was noted first in the Tiktaalik.<\/p>\n
If it was even more fair to give it to the refereeing, I could. Sending off two players and further making them play an additional EIGHT minutes after full-time is inhumane. But I could not do so \u2014 two last-minute goals were disallowed by VAR for offside.<\/p>\n
But seriously, Aleix Garcia deserves the Jersey Swap, simply for the goal he scored. He beat Diaz, Pavlovic, Kimmich and Tah on the goal. He was standout throughout the game too \u2014 a solid presence in their midfield and had a strong grip on the game\u2019s tempo.<\/p>\n
Der Kaiser \u2014 Josip Stani\u0161i\u0107<\/p>\n
This game was a defensive nightmare in every angle. Jonathan Tah\u2019s homecoming has become forgettable and with multiple incidents wherein he was the last man and isolated. Dayot Upamecano\u2019s speed was perhaps his only saving grace and that too, not always. In this mix, it was Josip Stani\u0161i\u0107 who had the most to provide. There is nothing particularly extraordinary about his performance from tonight, he was simply the best of a mediocre lot.<\/p>\n
Stanisic had to constantly clean up the messes left behind by attack \u2014 for no one was in form. He won a solid few duels against Poku and Tillman, and had a strong passing game with an accuracy of close to 90%.<\/p>\n
There is not much else to speak on any defender\u2019s performance \u2014 Stanisic takes the award for his composure tonight.<\/p>\n
Der Fussballgott \u2014 Joshua Kimmich<\/p>\n
Giving Kimmich this award was difficult \u2014 he and Aleksander Pavlovi\u0107 had a near-similar performance. Where Kimmich edges is the way he organized the team during the difficult circumstances they were in. His leadership and maintaining the passing distribution under such immense pressure are commendable. His role was mostly defensive and holding the team down.<\/p>\n
Perhaps, this was the most crucial reason why Bayern could take a point home tonight. However, his performance was not enough to warrant an MOTM.<\/p>\n
Der Bomber \u2014 Harry Kane<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, the award cannot go to Luis D\u00edaz \u2014 a player who may have scored the lone goal, but managed to also let Garcia score and get sent off. Michael Olise was a strong contender, but Harry Kane takes Der Bomber.<\/p>\n
Kane\u2019s substitution for Lennart Karl was predictable \u2014 the latter had done very little despite having 60 minutes on the pitch. Immediate impact is the name of the Kane game \u2014 the star got in what seemed like the first goal. However, it was disallowed due to a handball. Of course, later when Luis D\u00edaz scored the goal assisted by Michael Olise, Kane was involved in the buildup.<\/p>\n
Bayern were shorthanded and Kane came armed with firepower. Though it wasn\u2019t handled appropriately and Bayern did continue to flail around like fish out of water, his half-hour cameo made Bayern dangerous enough to threaten Leverkusen.<\/p>\n
(I am truly sorry about all the arm references.)<\/p>\n
Meister of the Match \u2014 Sven Ulreich<\/p>\n
Ulreich\u2019s story has been nothing short of difficult. The goalkeeper has always been second in line to Manuel Neuer, but went further down to third after Jonas Urbig\u2019s entry. Last year, Ulreich lost his 7-year-old son to a serious, long-term illness. In this circumstance, anyone else would have decided to retire. Losing a loved one, and one\u2019s son on top of that is not easy. Yet, the goalkeeper continues to display extraordinary strength.<\/p>\n
He made SIX saves \u2014 all of which were crucial given the circumstances. Bayern were always moments away from losing the game and yet a man who hadn\u2019t played in two years had more impact than the ones playing week in and week out.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s no Manuel Neuer, hell, he\u2019s no Jonas Urbig. But Vincent Kompany made the right decision in playing Ulreich over the youngsters. The manager\u2019s decisions may not always be perfect, but this one was.<\/p>\n
In this game, there were really no bright spots barring Ulreich. The odd few performances that held the team together were like the dim incandescent lights in an old tavern on its last legs.<\/p>\n
It is rather unfortunate how little I have to speak of the team itself. It is becoming hard to tell if this Bayern team is struggling against tough teams, or if it\u2019s the squad depth and scheduling that is keeping the team from doing their best. It remains to be seen how we come back from this and hopefully do better in the Pokal.<\/p>\n
What do you think about the awards? Who else do you think deserved a shout? Let us know in the comments!<\/p>\n