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 saw 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.