It was the result that marked the beginning of the end for Mauricio Pochettino. What ought to have been the first of many great European nights for Tottenham at their brand spanking new stadium ended in a nightmare as they were battered 7-2 by Bayern Munich in October.
It’s hard to believe but Spurs actually made a dream start when Son Heung-min opened the scoring after 12 minutes before Bayern scored twice to lead 2-1 at the break and continued their ruthless onslaught in the second half as Pochettino’s side effectively gave up.
The two sides meet again in the Champions League next week, though there is little at stake in Group B with both teams having already sealed qualification to the knockout stages and Bayern assured of top spot in Group B.
But the game will at least serve as a useful measure of exactly what Spurs have learnt from that humbling defeat two months ago and of their progress under Jose Mourinho. Another huge defeat would deal a big blow to the new manager’s rebuilding project. Here’s how Tottenham can prevent that from happening.
Tottenham were thrashed 7-2 by Bayern Munich in the first meeting between the sides
Former Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry scored four goals in a stunning individual display
Niko Kovac and Mauricio Pochettino have both been sacked since October’s clash
Jose Mourinho must now devise a plan to stop Bayern running riot over Spurs once again
Pack the midfield
One of the criticisms aimed at Mourinho during his time in charge of Manchester United was that his tactics had become outdated but the Portuguese is likely to stick to his conservative instincts for the trip to the Allianz Arena.
In the 2-1 defeat to Manchester United last week, Mourinho opted for an attack-minded 4-2-3-1, with Son, Dele Alli and Lucas Moura providing support behind Harry Kane – but it seems unlikely he will opt for the same approach this week.
While the shape may remain the same, there will be personnel changes, with a group of senior players left behind in London to rest: Kane, Alli, Jan Vertonghen and Serge Aurier, plus the injured Harry Winks and Tanguy Ndombele.
In midfield, Winks has partnered Moussa Sissoko in the middle of the park, but having conceded eight goals in the four games since he took charge, Mourinho must protect Spurs’ vulnerable back four.
Winks’s ankle injury makes the decision fairly easy. Eric Dier, who started on the bench in the defeat at Manchester United, should be reinstated against a Bayern side who normally line up in a 4-1-4-1 formation. He and Sissoko should patrol in front of the defence to ensure the home side don’t enjoy an easy way through to the back four.
Eric Dier could be handed a recall in a deep-lying midfield role in a bid to thwart Bayern
Man mark Serge Gnabry
Mourinho has often created individual traps designed to constrain the star players of opposition teams and he may do so again to nullify the threat of Serge Gnabry.
Gnabry, of course, scored four goals in a stunning individual display against Spurs in October and he’s now scored nine goals in 18 games for Bayern this season.
Given Spurs’ frailties at the back, Mourinho could ask one of his midfielders to man mark Gnabry throughout and avoid the prospect of him isolating his full-backs one v one.
Tottenham’s defensive woes this season have been partly due to their vulnerability in wide areas. Aurier remains a weak link at right-back, while Vertonghen endured a tough night at Old Trafford after being played out of position at left-back. Danny Rose and Kyle Walker-Peters are set to stake their claims for regular starting places in Munich.
If Dier is handed a recall, he could be tasked with occupying the space Gnabry likes to operate in and stop him from cutting inside and getting shots off at goal as he did in the first meeting between the sides.
Mourinho often creates traps to contain star players and may man-mark Serge Gnabry
Target Bayern in wide areas
Although Bayern put seven past Tottenham, their current squad is some way short of some of the great sides they have produced in recent years – particularly in defence.
A spate of injuries has seen caretaker manager Hansi Flick fudge together a makeshift back four that suffered a torrid time in the 2-1 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in their last Bundesliga outing.
Leverkusen’s jet-heeled left winger Leon Bailey ran riot as he targeted Benjamin Pavard at right-back and Tottenham must do the same and ensure Son sees plenty of the ball to weave his magic. The same applies if Ryan Sessegnon is handed the chance to prove his enormous potential with Son rested.
On Bayern’s opposite flank Alphonso Davies – who is a winger by trade – has been turned into an emergency left-back who has had to learn on the job. Lucas Moura will surely be licking his lips at the prospect of testing his primitive defensive skills.
If Spurs’ wide men can get the better of their markers, Bayern are equally frail at centre-back, where midfielders David Alaba and Javi Martinez have been filling in recently.
Spurs are likely to target Alphonso Davies – a winger who has been forced to play at left-back
Play on the counter-attack
Mourinho is famed for parking the bus away at tough European destinations and he could adopt such a defensive approach at Bayern. Playing on the counter-attack could create the space his side need to attack.
Bayern’s 4-1-4-1 formation normally sees Joshua Kimmich operate in a holding role behind a four-man midfield of Ivan Perisic, Thomas Muller, Leon Goretzka and Gnabry.
That attack-minded selection saw Bayern put four goals past Borussia Dortmund recently but has also contributed to their defensive downfall. Bayern have conceded 18 goals in 13 league games this season.
If Mourinho packs his midfield and invites Bayern to attack, that is likely to open up gaps for his side to hit on the break and feed the wide areas where Moura and Son or Sessegnon can open Bayern up in the final third.
That means creative players such as Christian Eriksen and Giovani Lo Celso, who are likely to start in Munich, are given strict tactical roles.
Son Heung-min could find the space he needs to thrive if Spurs play on the counter-attack
Cut off Robert Lewandowski’s supply
At 31 years old, Lewandowski is playing like a man 10 years younger. The striker has already scored an astonishing 27 goals in 21 games in all competitions this season, including two in north London.
More worryingly for Tottenham fans, Lewandowski has also got history with Mourinho after giving his Real Madrid side the runaround back in 2013.
The Poland international scored four goals in Borussia Dortmund’s 4-1 win over Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
After that game, Mourinho said: ‘When we know absolutely everything about Lewandowski – we studied every detail possible and we lose him in three balls.’
To stop him, the Portuguese knows Spurs must prevent crosses into the box and deny him space in the 18-yard box – otherwise they could be in for another long night.
With 27 goals in 21 games this season, Spurs must cut off Robert Lewandowski’s supply line