A 5-Point Plan to Take Bayern Munich to Champions League Glory
Bayern Munich have comprehensively dominated the Bundesliga in recent years, winning the last three league titles by a combined 54 points. They are close to becoming the first side to win four consecutive German championships; although Borussia Dortmund have kept it relatively close, Bayern have hardly missed a beat all season long and are eight points clear with 12 games to go.
Yet in the Champions League, Bayern have left something to be desired during the Pep Guardiola era. Prior to the Catalan trainer's arrival in 2013, the Bavarians had reached three finals in four seasons. And the team he inherited were fresh off a treble, finally crossing the finishing line in Europe after two heartbreaking finals.
Although they have reached the semi-finals twice under Guardiola, Bayern have failed to hit top form in both legs of any knockout tie and have been humiliated by Real Madrid and Barcelona at the stage in the last two tournaments.
No matter how one looks at it, one simple fact is undeniable: Bayern have had some big problems in the Champions League, their domestic form not coming even close to registering on the continental stage. Not on a regular basis, at least.
In this article, B/R looks at what has been going wrong for Bayern and what they could change in order to find their way back to European glory. Click "Begin Slideshow" for our top five picks.
Get Gotze and Ribery Fit and in-Form
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With Bayern's midfield and defensive options somewhat limited, the best defense may be a good offense. To that end, Bayern will need every possible option available. Their wingers and more forward-minded midfielders offer an array of attacking qualities, each more applicable for certain uses than others. And they have someone for every situation.
Franck Ribery and Mario Gotze have rarely played this season, but both are back from long-term injuries. The potential for both to affect games in Bayern's favor certainly should not be underestimated.
Ribery is proven in the Champions League in ways that Douglas Costa is not. He was decisive in the 2013 final. And Gotze decided the 2014 World Cup final. Both should be given minutes, especially with Arjen Robben struggling to score and Costa not quite playing at the level he achieved last fall.
A little competition in the squad can't hurt. Nor could sharing minutes to keep stars fresh.
Get Benatia and Martinez Fit and at Their Best
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As well as Joshua Kimmich and David Alaba have done as makeshift center-backs recently, neither is Champions League-grade material in the middle of defense. Europe's most physical and skilful strikers can and will put them to shame if given the chance.
That's why Bayern need real center-backs at the ready in the Champions League. In the case of Medhi Benatia, Saturday was a wasted chance to bring the fit-again defender back onto the pitch for at least a run-out. The Moroccan defender returned to full training four days ahead of the match against Darmstadt and could have come off the bench, but he was instead left out of the squad. Time is ticking, and chances to get him ready to play at all in the round of 16 are dwindling.
Aside from Benatia, Bayern could do with a fit and in-form Javi Martinez. The Spaniard had been quite impressive in central defense for Bayern this season prior to an injury suffered in January that signaled a central-defensive crisis for the Bavarians.
Martinez and Benatia are the two most talented center-backs who have a chance to play in the coming weeks, so Guardiola would be wise to make no delay in bringing them back into the team—first with limited minutes to avoid the recurrence of injuries and thereafter in a full, starting capacity. Playing full-backs and midfielders in central defense cannot be seen as a viable option.
Motivate Vidal
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Midfield is a critical area for Guardiola, yet Bayern's options in the center are somewhat limited. Xabi Alonso, at 34, is ancient. And although he's a great passer of the ball, is limited in terms of the options he provides. Thiago Alcantara is brilliant, although his skill set seems to conflict to an extent with that of Alonso; although they offer different skills on the ball, both demand possession in order to function at their best and offer much more on the ball than off.
Arturo Vidal was meant to be the complete figure in central midfield to put it all together for Bayern. Yet the Chilean has left plenty to be desired. Scandal after scandal has emerged concerning the former Juventus man, who just doesn't look motivated.
He plays, and often, but it seems to be more out of necessity than a sense of having earned it. He's not in shape, he's not playing anywhere near the level he's capable of and it looks like he's just lazy.
If Bayern are to succeed in the Champions League, they need a complete central midfielder who can complement Alonso or Thiago. Vidal could be their man, but until he's motivated, he isn't.
Reach a Level of Relative Consistency, Tactically
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It may be interesting for some to see Guardiola try a different set of defenders, a player in a seemingly unnatural position or some other new tactical oddity in the Bundesliga on a regular basis. In fairness to the coach, it typically works—or at least goes unpunished. At least, that is, in the Bundesliga.
There is something to be said for tactical flexibility. Bayern's treble-winning side in 2012-13 was extremely flexible. Consider the way that side played a possession-first game in the Champions League quarter-finals against Juventus before switching to a containment game against Barcelona in the semi-finals and a high-tempo, pressing style in the final against Dortmund.
There are limits, though, to how much a team can adapt tactically. Although his decisions were often different from game to game, Jupp Heynckes used the same formation and the same starting lineup on a regular basis. Guardiola changes his lineup every game, and his tactics and formations often change drastically as well. The way he plays in the Bundesliga, often with a hyper-aggressive formation, is entirely different from the way he approaches Champions League matches.
It can be a big ask of players to suddenly play so differently once every few weeks. Tactical flexibility is a must, and game-to-game tweaks and adjustments are a good idea. However, some degree of consistency would help the players in the Champions League.
Hope for Luck
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In football, you do everything you can to create conditions that will result in victory. You try your best, but the rest of the game just depends on luck.
Maybe a player picks up a knock and can't play. Maybe the ball takes an unexpected bounce off a divot. Maybe a cross comes in that looks like it will be headed by a player but is instead missed and finds its way inside the far post off a bounce. These events are unpredictable, and often they are not decisive. Teams surely try to avoid relying on them. But in Bayern's case, it might be necessary.
The fact of the matter is there are teams that look better than Bayern. Barcelona appear unbeatable. Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Real Madrid are in brilliant form. Even at their best, Bayern could lose to any of these sides. So they may need to rely on luck to see them to victory in the Champions League.
It's not ideal, but it's reality.
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