FC Bayern Munich: Review of Stuttgart Game, Preview of Koln Game and Contracts

The football FC Bayern Munich played against Stuttgart was awfully easy on the eye. Considering the team rested more than half of its starters, it was a nice feeling to know that the standard of attack hadn't dipped. The defence had its moments, though.

First and foremost, the match will be best remembered by bringing down the curtains on the career of the wonderful Hans Joerg Butt. Butt himself was responsible for making some brilliant saves to keep Stuttgart at bay after Mario Gomez had opened the scoring. Gomez was set up by the wonderful Thomas Mueller.

Mueller scored the second himself to end the game and earn Bayern a third win against Stuttgart this season.

The match will also be remembered as the match in which Bayern introduced their new and rather strange away kit. The colours are white and fluorescent orange. The collar says, "Mia san Mia," the Bavarian phrase which roughly translates to "we are who we are" and is Bayern's famous motto.

Diego Contento, Rafinha and Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, three candidates for the final on May 19, started the match. Contento generally played well at both ends, except for getting beaten twice. Rafinha and Tymoshchuk gave pretty good performances, too.

Gomez, after his goal, sat one behind the top scorer in the league, Klaas Jan Huntelaar. He might not start against Koeln, though, considering the two cup finals that are waiting.

After the match, the Bayern players took out a banner and showed it around the stadium. The banner thanked the fans for their support in 2012. The fans were patient, considering some of the poor away displays during the season. The banner might have come a match too soon, but the May 19 won't see 69,000 Bayern fans in the arena due to UEFA regulations and, of course, the ground supposedly being a neutral one.

Jerome Boateng had a slight knock to deal with, but he should make the bench for Koln. This upcoming match will be the last time that Jupp Heynckes will be able to field an experimental lineup ahead of the two finals.

The match against Koln for Bayern holds little significance. But, for the Billy Goats, this match has endless meaning.

First of all, Koln is sitting in the relegation playoff spot in the Bundesliga and will be looking to consolidate the 16th spot ahead of Hertha.

Secondly, this will be Lukas Podolski's farewell Bundesliga match. The German will be heading to Arsene Wenger's Gunners side next season, looking for "trophies."

Podolski has finally made a move in his career that brings him out of his comfort zone following a forgetful spell at Bayern. It is almost fitting that his final match comes against Bayern, the same team where he failed.

Podolski himself feels that he was not mature enough for the move to Bayern. This is seemingly the right time. Before the possible two-legged playoff to keep his team in the Bundesliga, possibly against bitter rivals Dusseldorf, the German will be looking to sign off with a goal or two against Bayern.

In the reverse fixture, Koeln was effectively bulldozed. Bayern lost Franck Ribery early on to a red card. Mario Gomez, David Alaba and Toni Kroos scored to bring about the winter break in style. Bayern, of course, had led the table back then. Koln beat Bayern 3-2 in this fixture last season. Bayern led 2-0 before halftime, but had an absolute breakdown in the second half.

UEFA rejected Bayern's request to grant the suspended trio leniency for the final. This was expected, but it is rather unfair for both Chelsea and Bayern. Bayern's rewards for a Champions League win will go down the drain, as they will then have to pay both Schalke and Hoffenheim extra money for Manuel Neuer and Luiz Gustavo according to clauses in their contracts.

Bayern, by the way, has learned their lesson about squad depth a tad late and has signed Dante from Monchengladbach. The deal is for four years—the Brazilian has proved to be a rock for Gladbach this season. The 28-year-old's deal lasts until June 30, 2016. Dante will perhaps be a backup to the two youngsters Holger Badstuber and Jerome Boateng.

Speaking of backups, Bayern might require Daniel Van Buyten for the Champions League final. "The Belgian Bull," as he is lovingly called, signed on for another year. Van Buyten has been a faithful servant to the club for many a year now. Of course, he plays two roles for the club—centre-back and emergency striker.

And finally, here is the big one: Arjen Robben just penned a deal which will see him remain with Bayern until June 2015. His original contract was supposed to run out in 2013.

Robben, by signing this deal, has almost effectively announced himself a Bayern player for the rest of his career. There is no club that has taken care of him as much as our favourite reds. This is what he had to say about his new contract:

"

I've always emphasised that I feel very, very settled in Munich and at Bayern. This is the reason I'm glad to extend my contract ahead of its expiry. Bayern is like a family to me. Two of my three children were born in Munich and my family and I feel at home here. This contract extension is also the right decision for me from a sporting perspective. We have a magnificent team, and I'm certain we'll enjoy the maximum possible footballing success in the years to come.

"

Going back to the Koln match, this is how I think Bayern will lineup. I feel Jupp will want his boys in shape for the next two weeks.

Manuel Neuer

Philipp Lahm—Jerome Boateng—Anatoliy Tymoshchuk—Diego Contento

Bastian Schweinsteiger—Danijel Pranjic—Toni Kroos

David Alaba—Thomas Mueller—Franck Ribery

Ivica Olic

So, how do I see this going? Podolski will grab a goal, but Koln will only be left star-struck.

Prediction: Koln 1-2 Bayern