Paderborn 2-3 Bayern Munich: 5 Hits & Flops | Bundesliga 2019-20

Bayern Munich's expected dominant display against Paderborn didn't come. The defending champions began the game with a flurry of chances but then failed to get out of second gear for the rest of the game.

Bayern had opportunities aplenty to make Paderborn pay, but their inability to make the best of their chances in front of goal was nearly their undoing. There was perhaps little they could've done to prevent the goals that the home side scored, but they could've put the game beyond them before it came to such close margins.

Die Roten were forced to take Lucas Hernandez and Thiago off at half-time which surely affected the control they had on the game, but they did enough to get the three points on the day.

Regardless, there were plenty of positives for Bayern to take away from the game. On that note, let us look at the hits and flops from the game.

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#5 Serge Gnabry: Hit

Gnabry read the game well and delivered the performance Bayern needed

The German winger had an assist and a goal from the game that he will be proud of, but the highlight of his overall play was his movement. He was able to get in between the full-back and centre-back and make the run towards the centre, most notably on two occasions when Joshua Kimmich and Philippe Coutinho found him with similar deliveries.

Bayern were able to create a number of chances despite perhaps not playing the most fluent football, and Gnabry's direct running was responsible for a lot of it. Whether it was dragging players away and providing space for the midfielders to operate with freedom, or running past Robert Lewandowski on a night when the Polish striker was not at his best, Gnabry was able to exploit gaps in the Paderborn defence.

This was perhaps the best of Gnabry we have seen this season so far, which will definitely be bad news for their upcoming opponents.

#4 Benjamin Pavard: Flop

Pavard (right) had an underwhelming afternoon

This is a bit of a harsh assessment, but the French defender hasn't been able to produce a great deal from the right-back position going forward. Benjamin Pavard's fairly solid in defence and makes certain movements in attack that are promising, but both his positioning and crossing were disappointing.

The output he generated would particularly sting Bayern Munich because they're used to brilliant deliveries from wide positions coming through Joshua Kimmich. The first-choice right-back did well playing in midfield himself, but his replacement wasn't able to emulate any of his magic from the right against Paderborn.

We know that Pavard is capable of similar output because we've seen him produce some immense displays for France and he's shown glimpses of it in the recent past for Bayern as well. Bayern were not overly bothered by it on the day because of the creativity of others flourishing on the day, but against stiffer opposition, they will need all of their players to perform.

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#3 Jamilu Collins: Hit

Jamilu Collins (left) scored an absolute cracker of a goal

The Paderborn left-back had a torrid start to the game with Serge Gnabry escaping his attention constantly and running past him to get behind their defensive line. He got more into the game as the time progressed and he forayed forward.

He shone especially in the last 20 minutes when Paderborn put the pressure on Bayern Munich and plenty of Paderborn's attacking threat came down the left through Jamilu Collins and Christopher Antwi-Adjej. Collins looked threatening on the overlap and his delivery into the box was a concern for Bayern Munich although eventually, they did manage to defend it.

The entire Bayern squad was left just watching, though, when the ball fell to Jamilu Collins from a cleared set-piece and the left-back let it rip. The ball swerved away from a wrong-footed Manuel Neuer to nestle in the left corner and Paderborn had the opportunity to go from there and try to get a point from the game.

#2 Ben Zolinski: Flop

Ben Zolinski (right) failed to make a mark despite several breaks from Paderborn

The Paderborn forward was full of running and made plenty of progress down the middle. His movement allowed for the players around him to focus their play and try to find him. Nonetheless, when the service came, he was often lacking. Had the German forward been more clinical with his opportunities, Paderborn may have gotten more from the game than they did in the end.

Lucas Hernandez and Niklas Sule had the reading of Zolinski for most of the game and when Alphonso Davies came on to replace Hernandez, there was space for Zolinski to exploit. The forward wasn't able to make the most of the space between the full-back and centre-back, often being beaten to through balls by the defensive efforts of the Bayern defenders.

Rubbing salt in his wounds was Paderborn substitute Kai Proger who scored just 6 minutes after coming on for the German forward.

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#1 Philippe Coutinho: Hit

Coutinho was easily the best player on the pitch yesterday

The Brazilian was an absolute joy to watch in Bayern's attack. He seemed in a hurry to wrap up the game for Bayern Munich right from the start as he created a couple of chances for Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry right at the beginning. Although Coman was wasteful with his chance, Gnabry made the difference with his finish.

Coutinho was able to consistently turn up in pockets and attract players to him while releasing others. His excellent close control and quick feet on some occasions were mesmerizing to watch as he seemed able to beat players at will.

The loanee from Barcelona floated around the pitch, turning up on the left and releasing Coman or making a run into the box along with Lewandowski, and even pressing up high to win the ball in advanced areas. Coutinho did it all against Paderborn. To top it all, he even got a goal which was laid on a plate for him by Gnabry, following some brilliant passing by Bayern.