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#3 Robert Lewandowski draws a rare blank against Lokomotiv Moscow
Is Robert Lewandowski's barren run in the Champions League a worry? A striker not scoring in only two games in the competition this season has raised a few eyebrows because that's the level the Bayern Munich striker has set for himself.
Bayern Munich comfortably put four past Atletico Madrid at the Allianz Arena in their Champions League opener last week, but Lewandowski was surprisingly not among the scorers. His rather poor form in the 2020-21 Champions League contined as Lokomotiv were able to counter the 32-year-old's movements and aerial prowess inside the box.
With only one shot on target, Lewandowski failed to make an impact in the game. He lost seven of his nine aerial duels and missed a big chance in the first half, but Bayern Munich won their 13th consecutive Champions League game on the trot.
#2 Home fans in the Champions League is a welcome sight
After almost eight months of football without fans, any team would feel the pressure of a few thousand fans shouting against them. Bayern Munich are no different in this regard. While Bayern felt the pressure in Moscow, especially in the second half, Lokomotiv were cherishing it, as the home fans kept egging them to go for it.
More than five thousand fans were allowed to witness the game at the Lokomotiv stadium, and it certainly had an impact on the game if not on the result. Without any fans, maybe Lokomotiv wouldn't have stood a chance against Bayern Munich For that reason teams, especially the unfancied ones, would love to have fans in their home games.
The atmosphere was felt even when the stadium was far from full as the passionate fans of Lokomotiv Moscow made a difference. However, eventually Bayern Munich's experience helped them prevail in a close game.
#1 Bayern Munich find a way to win without playing at their best
Despite being out-shot six to four by Lokomotiv Moscow, Manuel Neuer and Co. refused to capitulate and held their own until the last minute. The home side was rampaging up and down the pitch and seemed to be on oxygen cylinders as their work rate did not drop one bit throughout the 90 minutes in Moscow.
On the other hand, Bayern Munich were all over the pitch for the majority of the second half. Except for pinging aerial balls and crosses from the deep, hoping that Lewandowski would get his head on one of them, Bayern Munich surprisingly looked bereft of ideas as they struggled to break down their spirited opposition. Bayern's passes were regularly intercepted as Lokomotiv broke at pace.
However, Bayern Munich ended up on the winning side, thanks to a 79th-minute winner from Joshua Kimmich. Despite not being able to control proceedings in the second half, it was the visitors who prevailed, and that's the mentality that separates Bayern Munich from the rest in the continent.
