3 Christmas Wishes for Bayern Munich Fans

With Christmas just days away, Bayern Munich fans have already found quite a few gifts—or lumps of coal, depending on their perspective—in their stockings.

On Friday, the club announced that Thomas Muller, Jerome Boateng, Javi Martinez and Xabi Alonso had all penned contract extensions. And on Sunday, they revealed that Pep Guardiola had opted not to renew his contract, and that Carlo Ancelotti would come as the trainer's replacement in July, per the club's official website. It's been a turbulent few days, to say the least.

But with Christmas still yet to come, Bayern fans will have a few more wishes they'll hope to come true in the new year.

Click "Begin Slideshow" for B/R's top three.

Arsenal to Eliminate Barcelona from the Champions League

Felice Calabro'/Associated Press

Looking at the list of contenders for the 2015-16 UEFA Champions League title, Bayern have to favor their chances of sitting atop the European club football hierarchy at season's end. They are, arguably, one of just two clubs in the last 16 that can truly be believed to have the quality and ability to win the tournament.

To be the best, you have to beat the best, however, and Bayern would face a very challenging task if they were to be paired with Barcelona.

The holders have a world-class lineup in all areas on the pitch, and their attack is especially devastating. So as their club take on Juventus, Bayern fans will also have an eye on the tie Barcelona have with Arsenal, hoping the Gunners can pull off an improbable win.

If Arsenal do advance, they'll have truly proved themselves. But Bayern have had their number several times in recent years, and they would likely come out on top in a potential head-to-head.

In fact, Bayern would favor their odds against Real Madrid, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain or any other club they could face. But Barcelona are a different proposition altogether, and Bayern fans will hope to avoid an encounter with Pep Guardiola's former club.

Granit Xhaka

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

Bayern have a very strong squad as it stands, but every team could benefit from at least a few, targeted signings. In the Bavarians' case, a center-back might be good, but the biggest name that actually is in the news is Granit Xhaka.

Bild (in German) reported earlier this month that Bayern had lined up Xhaka to serve as Xabi Alonso's long-term replacement. Although the Spaniard extended his contract until 2017 a few days ago, the prospect of Xhaka coming next summer is still entirely possible.

It partly depends on how Alonso fares between now and season's end, which will give an idea as to how much can be expected of him further down the road. And it also depends on how Borussia Monchengladbach fare.

Many Bayern fans are eager to see Alonso move out of the spotlight and into more of a supportive role as an influence in training and a reliable substitute. They see Xhaka, at 23 years of age, to be the long-term future of the club.

Former Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld once likened Xhaka to Bastian Schweinsteiger (via Bild, in German), so it's easy to see how the Swiss central midfielder could fit in well at the Allianz Arena. Still not yet signed, Xhaka is already a favorite among Bayern fans.

A Run-in with Pep Guardiola's Next Club

Paul White/Associated Press

Now that it's official that Guardiola will be leaving the Allianz Arena at the season's end, Bayern fans will be relishing a meeting with their soon-to-be former manager. And, should he move to Manchester United or Manchester City, per Jamie Sanderson of the Metro, there's a decent chance Bayern will be paired with his future club in the 2016-17 Champions League group stage.

Some fans, who are more excited about Guardiola's departure, will be happy for the chance for new trainer Carlo Ancelotti to show the former Barcelona man how to get the most out of a world-class squad of Bayern players—especially if the Bundesliga leaders suffer another disappointment in the Champions League this spring.

Others, who had preferred that Guardiola stayed in Munich, will be eager to meet a familiar face on such a grand occasion.

In any case, a quick meeting of their past and present will be an interesting proposition for Bayern fans.