Bayern now eyeing a treble
Granted, that may seem like the football equivalent of the old Dog Bites Man newspaper story. This is Bayern’s 22nd title since the Bundesliga was formed 50 years ago and their 11th in the past 20 years. All the same, this one is a bit special.
To win by 20 points with six matches to go is unprecedented. Bayern have conceded just 13 league goals and after starting with a record run of victories they have now set a record by winning all 11 games since the winter break.
Jupp Heynckes has become the oldest manager ever to win the Bundesliga, and the dream of being the first German club to win the Treble — league, cup and European crown — is well and truly alive.
Juventus will start this game as real outsiders, despite closing in on the Italian title at the weekend. It’s hard to see how even their defence can avoid conceding an away goal, given Bayern’s strength on the counter. There has been a 4-1 scoreline in Turin before between these two sides — Juventus on the receiving end.
This is the stage of the tournament where suspensions and bookings can prove decisive. Here, too, Juve are at a disadvantage, as they’re without Arturo Vidal in midfield and Claudio Marchisio is one card away from a ban. Bayern do have four players walking the yellow tightrope, including Philipp Lahm, but they also have Javi Martinez back from suspension.
One thing Bayern do have to guard against is the sloppiness born out of overconfidence. They lost the final last year because they already saw themselves with the trophy in their hands and their three defeats this season — against Bate Borisov, Bayer Leverkusen and Arsenal — all showed that same flaw in their character.
Psychologically, winning the title can do strange things to teams playing in Europe, especially winning by a record margin. It takes the pressure off but on some occasions that release of pressure can backfire.
Bayern are an impressive team — possibly the best in Europe, on current form — but there have been cheap victories in that league triumph; most recently a 9-2 avalanche against a pitiful Hamburg. Financially they are so dominant in Germany that even the more competitive sides in the Bundesliga are hard-pressed to keep up. Others are steamrollered.
One great strength of German football is its democracy. Clubs are part-owned by their fans — and smaller clubs can make it into the top flight. Examples in recent years include Hoffenheim, Augsburg and this season Bayern’s Bavarian neighbours, Greuther Fürth. The snag is that such clubs usually don’t have the resources to compete and survive.
Look at the current bottom three: Hoffenheim have just about coped so far thanks to a rich benefactor, Augsburg are struggling, Fürth are plainly out of their depth.
Anchored at the bottom, 14 points from safety, at the weekend they fielded a team that cost a total €1.4m. By contrast Bayern captain Philipp Lahm received almost exactly €14m last year in combined salary and sponsorships. The Bayern side that won the title by beating Eintracht Frankfurt cost €188.3m, and they were resting a few of their more valuable assets.
The Cloverleaves, as Fürth are popularly known thanks to their club crest, don’t have famous players. The one you might have heard of is the Ghanaian-born Gerald Asamoah, now 34, who had a good career playing for Schalke and Germany before joining Fürth last year. Their sponsors are a modest local insurance company Ergo Direkt. There could hardly be a greater contrast with Bayern’s main patrons, the global giants Allianz.
Bayern would be worthy winners of this year’s competition — and rightly pride themselves on being profitable and financially sound. Vorsprung Durch Technik — ahead through technology — as Bayern’s other big sponsors Audi always say. But it does help to have a lot of cash.
