How Good Exactly Are FC Bayern Munich
After recording the biggest ever victory in the knockout stages of the Champions League (7-0 v Swiss minnows FC Basle), it's an opportune time to ask whether FC Bayern Munich can lift the prestigious European trophy in their own back yard.
Despite penning this article before the completion of the first knock-out round, but assuming that Real Madrid will qualify, there is a strong argument to rank Bayern as Europe's third best team. While Barcelona and Real Madrid have players to strike fear into any team, the remaining sides - APOEL Nicosia, Benfica, Marseille, AC Milan and Chelsea/Napoli - look potentially easy prey. Although Benfica and Napoli can turn on the style at times and AC Milan carry the grand status their name affords them, none of these remaining teams are as good as FC Bayern. So the question boils down to whether Bayern can beat the Spanish powerhouses?
Off-field
Firstly, let's consider the factors away from the sublime sward of the Allianz Arena. There are two significant factors which will affect FC Bayern's ability to compete for the big European prize in the forthcoming years. Firstly, UEFA supremo Michel Platini's tinkering with qualification, which has enabled perceived smaller teams from so-called lesser nations to progress to the group stages and beyond. Regarding this season's competition, should the unlikely happen and both CSKA Moscow and Chelsea progress to the quarter-finals, the eight teams left would be drawn from eight different nations. This rule change ostensibly makes it easier for the big teams, so long as they can negotiate their own safe arrival to the knock-out stages. It also leaves the potential for vital games against inexperienced opponents. Secondly, and certainly more relevant in Bayern's case, is that from next season the Bundesliga will have the right to four CL places, courtesy of overtaking Serie A as Europe's third-highest ranked league. With three of those four places guaranteed a place in the group stages, a minimum of a sixth of the Bundesliga's 18 teams will be represented in what is known in Germany as die Königsklasse (the King's class).
Although it would be foolish to suggest Europe's third-strongest league is weak, FC Bayern have that feeling of a big fish in a small pond. Perhaps they are in fact a big fish in a big pond? If you look at the rich-list of football clubs, Bayern lie in fourth overall and are so far ahead of their nearest German competitor (Schalke 04) - with typically more than twice their turnover - that it makes comparing Bayern and the rest, in terms of resources, folly. Essentially, Bayern will always qualify for the Champions League. And this is a valuable fact: it allows for the club to factor the Euro millions into their budget without fear of a Leeds United-style financial reprisal. Moreover, experience is a vital attribute in going the distance in the competition. We all know the quality of Barcelona on the pitch but how many fans would say that, player for player, Manchester United are Europe's second best team? Yet they have reached the final three out of four seasons, a testimony to the know-how of their sage manager (Sir Alex Ferguson) and a nod in the direction of experience.
Tactical Analysis - the front four
Tactical Analysis - the rest
Behind the front four, in keeping with the formation du jour, 22-year-old Toni Kroos is carving out a reputation as an effective central midfielder. While the description of Thomas Müller's role may remind fans of a young Paul Scholes, the young East German Kroos' performance may better reflect Scholes' current role. Despite a perceived lack of aggression and tackling in his game, and being inclined to sit deeper, or indeed forced to due to Bayern's front four, Kroos offers his defence adequate protection - at the same time producing an impressive passing game. His ability to strike the ball from long range, with respect to passing and shooting, adds variety to his game, which is essential to mark him out from rivals in this position. One wouldn't expect the same from some of his more peripheral Bayern team-mates, such as Austrian youngster David Alaba and Brazilian Luiz Gustavo. Alongside him, the re-emergence of Bastian Schweinsteiger can only strengthen Bayern's cause. At only 27, the home-grown former prodigy has modified his game from carefree winger into integral midfield fulcrum for both club and national side. His return from long-term injury will only add stability and presence to the team and should improve the game of Kroos alongside him.
In goal, despite a few calamitous, game-changing mistakes, Manuel Neuer has proven himself worthy of an enormous transfer fee last summer. Despite lacking a natural ability to play the ball with his feet, and thus unable to offer his team a sweeper-cum-goalkeeper in the mould of Barcelona's Víctor Valdés, Neuer's handling of the ball and accurate throws are another reason why Bayern are able to counter-attack so quickly and exploit the natural pace of Ribéry and Robben - or 'Robbery' as they are better known in the German press. Finally, to the back four and certainly Bayern's Achilles heel. Philipp Lahm aside, they lack genuine quality here. As mentioned previously, Bayern are usually better defensively on the left, due partially to Ribéry's covering skills but mainly to the defensive acumen of the Bayern and Germany captain, Lahm.
Rafinha and Alaba, when he has played at left-back, have looked totally inadequate and certainly not top quality. In the centre, it's worth remembering that although Jérôme Boateng is not exactly a Manchester City reject, Roberto Mancini was happy to let him go and that speaks volumes. Boateng has not even been able to solidify his position at centre-back, one of the main reasons cited for his leaving Manchester. The choice alongside him involves the ageing Daniel Van Buyten or the relatively inexperienced and certainly often ineffectual Holger Badstuber. This is an area Bayern can certainly strengthen.
Can Bayern win the Champions League?
It is important to keep the 7-0 win over Basle in perspective. Bayern are certainly not the strongest team in the competition. However, no side will fancy a trip to the Allianz Arena in the next round. If they get the luck of the draw, and the Spanish heavyweights can deliver knock-out blows to one another, there is no reason why the Bavarians cannot reach the final. With home advantage, who knows what might happen?