BAYERN MUNICHARE THE HOLDERS VULNERABLE?
Frequently this season, Bayern have
been guilty of not being switched on
from the kick-off, making a habit of
conceding early goals and forced to
fight like crazy to pull themselves out of
a tail-spin. Between November and the
start ofJanuary, Bayern went behind in
eight consecutive Bundesliga games,
and also in two Champions League
group games (a 6-2 win at Salzburg
and1-1 draw away to Atletico Madrid).
In every one of those ten matches,UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUEKnockout stage
Bayern roared back to achieve either a
share of the spoils or a win, but sooner
or later, such sloppiness will cost them
dear. Their lethargy out of the traps is
simply asking for trouble, and in a
campaign with games coming thick and
fast, it’s hardly the best way to conserve
energy. Bayern have to learn to play
more efficiently.
“At the moment we always seem to
need a wake-up call before really
getting down to business” says Bayern
winger Leroy Sane. “We have to be on it
from the first minute.”Defensively, the Bavarians have
hardly been watertight, conceding 25
goals in their first17 league games - the
worst record of any of the Bundesliga’s
top four at the midway point. Without
the outstanding Manuel Neuer, they
would have let in considerably more. Of
particular concern to coach Hansi Flick
is the poor form of centre-backJerome
Boating and right-back Benjamin
Pavard. In the 5-2 victory over Mainz,
the pair were hauled off at the break.
Boateng and Pavard may find it hard to
get back in the good books of Flick.
Complacency?World player of the
year...Lewandowski
“At the moment we always seem to
need a wake-up call before really
getting down to business”
Leroy Sane