FC Basel 1-2 FC Bayern Munich: Thoughts and Observations

Inter Milan is a serious contender for this year's crown. Watching them tear Werder Bremen apart wasn't pretty but watching Bayern go a goal down against Basel wasn't pretty either.

Basel 1-2 Bayern

Bayern dominated the early exchanges before the defence crumbled midway through the first half. The error came down Philipp Lahm's flank but he cannot really be blamed. Holger Badstuber who has perhaps never tackled twice in a match refused to tackle Marco Streller outside the box; Streller found Alexander Frei who went past Daniel Van Buyten and scored.

Bayern equalized in the second half when Thomas Mueller was fouled in the box by Benjamin Huggel. The calm, collected and mature Bastian Schweinsteiger stepped up to the spot and sent the ball into the net. Bayern stole the match late on when the unmarked Schweinsteiger scored with a delicate touch from a Badstuber free-kick.

Thoughts and Observations

• Philipp Lahm actually went forward more than he has done recently but he still looked lethargic. On one occasion in the match, when Lahm was forward and Basel counter attacked, Lahm just gave up, and allowed the Basel players to move forward. Philipp Lahm does not look like "Mr.Consistent" any more. Usually, Lahm rarely has more than two bad games in a season; he is brilliant on every other occasion. This time around, Lahm is playing averagely and perhaps needs a break.

• Louis Van Gaal's decision to allow Holger Badstuber to take all the set-pieces seems like a strange one when Badstuber puts in poor balls from corners; however, sometimes, Van Gaal seems like a genius. On Match day One in the CL, Badstuber provided the free-kick from which Miro Klose scored and on Tuesday, he provided the free-kick from which Bastian Schweinsteiger grabbed the winner.

• Mark Van Bommel is criticized by Bayern supporters for his lack of pace and due to the fact that he rarely supports attacks. However, that is exactly why he is a defensive midfielder. He did well when he had the ball and his balls to Toni Kroos were very good ones. He did scuff a fairly easy shot badly though......

• Which brings me to Toni Kroos- Kroos saw a lot of the ball but aside from one shot, had a quiet night. His crosses and balls into the box were poor. Bayern supporters are waiting for the real Toni Kroos to appear. Well, atleast Kroos has done a better job than Hamit Altintop. Altintop saw plenty of the ball just like Kroos but failed to even send a cross in. Daniel Pranjic offered very little in attack and is really failing to take his chance to be in the starting eleven.

• The Bayern front-men have been criticized in recent days- but a striker can only convert if he gets chances. A striker is on the pitch to finish moves, not to create them. Louis Van Gaal wants his strikers to score; therefore it's about time that he asks his midfielders to stop passing the ball between themselves, Hans-Joerg Butt and the defence and to pass to the strikers. There has been talk about Edin Dzeko's arrival; however even Dzeko will be unable to score in a team whose midfielders and defence fail to put a single good ball into the box.

• Miroslav Klose did all that he could possibly do, Ivica Olic added energy to the side and Mario Gomez drew defenders out of position. Mario Gomez should leave Bayern as in this club, atleast under Louis Van Gaal, I really doubt whether the talented German who was once "the future of German football" can get back to his old self. Van Gaal should just play another midfielder in the striker position and send Gomez, Klose and Olic to clubs that really need strikers. Before anyone criticizes Miro Klose, I would like to point out that the downfall in his club career coincided with Van Gaal's arrival at Bayern.

• To give credit where it's due, Hans Joerg- Butt has made some crucial saves throughout the season so far and is doing a good job.Thomas Mueller deserves credit for earning the penalty but not for the rest of his performance and his play-acting.  And finally, Schweini should be applauded, not necessarily for his overall performance but for the strength he showed to help his team secure three vital points in a crucial match.Schweini has officially grown up. He hasn't lost his sense of humour but he has certainly matured over the past year and a half.

Schweini's expression after his winning goal said it all. Bayern is in trouble and everybody associated with the club knows it.

Bayern next play Borussia Dortmund on Sunday. Despite the board's dumb decision to extend Van Gaal's contract, this match could really tell where Bayern is heading, at least prior to the winter break.