Bayern Munich have dominated Germany in the last decade and are still considered the favourites to lift the Bundesliga. Harry Kane was the biggest inclusion in the summer of 2023. This is a huge boost, as the Bavarians were desperate to add a top-class striker. Tottenham Hotspur took their time to sell the English captain. Kane made a sudden impact in the Bundesliga by creating a goal within the first five minutes of the match. He then went on to score his first goal for the club.
Harry Kane’s addition will also boost the UEFA Champions League winning chances of the German giants. However, Bayern Munich cannot forget about the other strikers that are in the squad. They have one of the biggest prospects of the future in the form of Mathys Tel. The 18-year-old Frenchman joined the club in 2022 and has already scored a few goals for the first team. Let’s look at some of the stats of the teenager that show why Bayern Munich needs such players to win titles in 2023-24.
Off the bench cameos in 2022-23
Mathys Tel played in 29 matches for the German giants and only made three starts. He went on to score six goals, with five coming in the Bundesliga. The above shot map is from the combined 23 games played in the league and DFB-Pokal.
Tel averaged 3.9 shots per 90 minutes and had a high accuracy rate of 62.5%. He often found space in front of the opposition’s penalty box and scored crucial goals.
The 18-year-old scored his first goal of the 2023-24 season in just his 13-minute cameo. He replaced Kane and went on to score a goal.
High-work rate
Mathys Tel is young and often covers a lot of ground on the field. Last season, the teenager made 11 progressive runs, and most of them came from the left side. He was not shy about attempting dribbles and often found success inside the opposition penalty box. These dribbles can create shot-taking chances for the player.
Bayern Munich stay on the front foot in their league matches. They dominate possession and create more chances. Such sides often recover the ball in the attacking half. The above viz shows that Tel is capable enough to win back the ball, and most of these recoveries were made just outside the opposition’s penalty box.
Where did Tel get the better of Choupo-Moting last season?
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting was given more game time in 2022–23 than Tel. He scored 17 goals in all competitions for the German champions.
The above graph compares the percentile rank of these two forwards. Mathys Tel had the edge over his senior pro. The Frenchman averaged more shots, dribbles, and passes and was good in the air. He also received more passes than Choupo-Moting. It won’t be fair to compare these two players, as Tel usually comes on when the opposition defence is tired.
Mathys Tel showed his worth, and Bayern decided to keep him instead of sending him on loan. He can learn from Harry Kane and Thomas Muller and become one of the biggest names in world football.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine
