Bring it on
March 31, 2010
Those soccer pundits and analysts - this one included - who thought that Bayern Munich were on the verge of burnout as they chased three titles were shown the error of their ways by the German giants' performance in Tuesday night's victory over Manchester United.
Two defeats in their last two games in the Bundesliga and a number of lackluster displays before that suggested that Bayern's pursuit of the German league title, the German Cup and the Champions League was taking its toll on Louis van Gaal's side. But a performance of resilience, power and craft against the English champions proved that Bayern are far from running on empty.
Manchester United may have arrived in Munich believing the hype that a team shorn of the attacking flair of Arjen Robben - and with a half-fit Franck Ribery struggling to make the starting line-up - would be there for the taking. However, it was clear - especially in the second half - that Bayern were a in a very different frame of mind to that which was expected of them.
"The showing at the Allianz Arena was somewhat surprising for regular Bayern observers, especially after the team lost their last two Bundesliga matches against Eintracht Frankfurt and Stuttgart," German soccer writer David Hein told Deutsche Welle.
"It appears clear that the team struggled to keep their focus on the league with Manchester United lurking in the Champions League. But this victory will give Bayern a huge boost of confidence, not only in the Champions League but in the coming Bundesliga matches."
Bayern show endurance in United win
Bayern's full focus was definitely on United on Tuesday. They made a mockery of claims that they were worn out by constantly harassing their opponents, breaking at speed and passing their way through the Mancunian ranks with incisive vision and clever movement - all executed without the livewire Robben on the field. This was not a team reaching the end of its endurance, as proved by the last minute winner which gave them the slight advantage ahead of the return leg at Old Trafford.
Bayern's equalizer had more of a touch of good fortune to it but Franck Ribery's deflected free-kick on 77 minutes was more than the German team deserved for their perseverance. In fact, by the time Ivica Olic capitalized on the disarray in the United defense to slip the ball past Edwin van der Sar with aplomb in the 91st minute, it was United who looked exhausted.
As Man United goalkeeper van der Sar said later: "German teams are never beaten until they are on their way to the airport." It's a message the likes of Inter Milan and Barcelona would be wise to heed.
Certainly beating one of the favorites for the title will have caused ripples and nervousness to spread through the rest of the teams left in the draw. But was it a performance which suggests that Bayern Munich are ready to be crowned kings of Europe for the first time in nearly a decade?
Bayern show title-winning quality
"It may sound like a cliche, but any team in the quarterfinals can win the title," said Hein. "And that is certainly the case of Bayern Munich. The team thrives when they are considered underdogs. They have plenty of elements of a champion. Give Louis van Gaal time to prepare a game plan and he can make a team tough to beat over two legs."
"There have two tremendously talented goal-scoring playmakers in Robben and Ribery and top notch strikers in Gomez and Olic," he added.
The key, said Hein, will be the defense - especially Holger Badstuber. He said it was clear to those in the stadium that the 21-year-old was nervous at times against United, and his partner on the left wing Franck Ribery showed some frustration with the youngster's timidity and miscues.
"Of course they are not favored to beat any team left - though perhaps they could do so against either of the French sides, Lyon or Bordeaux, who are still in the Champions League. But with a performance like they had against United - who admittedly did not play as well as they could have - Bayern are certainly contenders."
Author: Nick Amies
Editor: Matt Hermann