Tottenham 2-3 Bayern Munich: Spurs set-piece problems exposed again in final pre-season defeat

The set-piece problems to have sparked so much debate at Tottenham last season continued in their defeat to Bayern Munich on Saturday.

While pre-season results may not go on to have much bearing on the Premier League campaign ahead, Ange Postecoglou’s side s aw a familiar flaw exposed once again, albeit with the caveat that not the entirety of his first-choice backline were playing.

Spurs had got off to a dream start, Dejan Kulusevksi opening the scoring within 30 seconds after the Swede sparked a counter.

He found Brennan Johnson, whose return ball fell behind the forward, though a fortunate deflection set it back into his path before poking the ball past Manuel Neuer.

The hosts made a typically explosive start but could not find a quick-fire second despite driving runs into the Bayern box from both Heung-min Son and Yves Bissouma.

After falling behind early, the German giants started to develop something of a foothold and were level within 15 minutes when Dayot Upamecano turned in Mathys Tel’s header from close range, one parried back into danger by goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario following an in-swinging free-kick.

Former Arsenal star Serge Gnabry had been guilty of wasting chances but made the most of some lax defending to give Vincent Kompany’s side a quick-fire lead before Thomas Muller exploited Tottenham’s set-piece issue again by nodding in a third after another crossed free-kick.

Postecoglou railed against the idea of appointing a set-piece coach when debate raged last season. Though surely unlikely to change his approach because of a friendly, doubts will continue until the Australian can find some kind of resolution to the problem.

The second-half brought a raft of changes and an increased tempo, though it was the familiar Kulusevski who got Spurs back into the game with an ice-cold finish following Lucas Bergvall’s cute pass, with Bayern having been caught out in their own half.

Eric Dier and Harry Kane , who were handed commemorative gifts by Ledley King before kick-off, both came on in the second-half as Bayern inflicted a second consecutive pre-season defeat on Spurs.

Kane went close with one shot in his first game back at the club but did not get on the scoresheet as he bid a proper farewell following his move away last summer.

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