Robben and Alaba Prove Bayern Munich Are a Cut Above the Rest of the Bundesliga

Can Xabi Alonso and Bastian Schweinsteiger play together? It's a question that has been circling the media in Germany as of late. And although Pep Guardiola has used the duo in each of Bayern Munich's three games since the winter break, there are legitimate questions as to whether they are too similar in style and whether one may force the other to play in a less than ideal role.

Yet, that was of little importance on Saturday as Bayern walked past Stuttgart, beating the Swabians by a 2-0 margin. It was Bayern's first victory of 2015 following a humbling in Wolfsburg and a disappointing draw with Schalke, and it came rather comfortably, with both goals having come within 50 minutes.

Although Guardiola's men took the points, the result had little to do with the quality of the holding duo's performance and everything to do with the individual brilliance of goalscorers Arjen Robben and David Alaba.

The Dutchman scored an outstanding half-volley to put Bayern ahead, and the Austrian netted a Juan Arango-esque free-kick from well outside the penalty area. According to German tabloid Bild (in German), the former was a hammer strike that was clocked at 97km/hr; the latter had just slightly less pace, at 93km/hr.

With individuals possessing enough quality that they can score such outstanding goals with little build-up required, Bayern are dangerous at all times and tactics may not always matter all that much. Robben can be expected to provide that kind of brilliance, and his position in attacking midfield makes it no surprise. Many German clubs have that kind of star player, be it Kevin De Bruyne at Wolfsburg or Alexander Meier at Eintracht Frankfurt.

The difference is that whereas other Bundesliga clubs have one or two such difference-makers, Bayern have them all over the pitch: There's Robben, Franck Ribery, Mario Gotze, Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller up front, all of whom can provide their own unique touch of brilliance. Even Alaba, a defender playing in a three-man back line, can sometimes come up aces, as he did in Stuttgart.

Saturday's result was huge for Bayern as they looked to make up for their previous dropped points. But at the same time, the manner in which it was earned was perhaps not ideal. With the goals that changed the game having little to do with tactics, it was a false confirmation of the game plan Pep Guardiola drew for the match.

As such, another week has gone by with some questions remaining: Are Alonso and Schweinsteiger Bayern's best duo in central midfield? Is Mitchell Weiser a good option at right-back, both in attack and in defense? And what combination of forwards has the best chemistry?

These questions don't need answering in every game, as the Stuttgart result proved. And that will be true in most cases, with Bayern's individual talent being enough to get them through the Bundesliga. On the other hand, it more likely than not will matter when Bayern face their greatest challenges of the season: the latter stages of the Champions League.

It's an unfair part of football, that a coach will have to think only in the theoretical to find his best lineup and that his success may be measured in only a few high-stakes games. However, that's the price a coach such as Guardiola pays when he takes a job in otherwise ideal conditions.

The good news for Guardiola and Bayern is that any questions about Bayern's dominance of the Bundesliga that came from Rounds 18 and 19 were quickly erased in Stuttgart thanks to touches of pure class from Robben and Alaba. Bayern overall played the part of champions in any case, and as seen with Wolfsburg in midweek and Borussia Dortmund over the course of the entire season, that isn't always so easy—even with a good squad.

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