After the loudly proclaimed “title at home”, FC Bayern has to solve a groundbreaking compulsory task for the Champions League anniversary, even without the injured Manuel Neuer. In their 300th game in Europe’s premier football league, the Munich team want to continue their climb up the table of the reformed league with another win against Shakhtar Donetsk – even if they have to do without their captain.
“We want to win against Shakhtar. Then we’ll be completely in the mix to win the last two games in January and move into the top eight,” demanded sports director Max Eberl.
Because of his rib problems, the 38-year-old Neuer missed the final training session before departure. The long-time Schalke player is therefore likely to be replaced again by Daniel Peretz in the away game in Gelsenkirchen, where Shakhtar plays its home games due to the war in Ukraine.
“We have to do our homework”
172 days before the Champions League final in the Allianz Arena, the team led by magic foot Jamal Musiala could make the important leap into the targeted top 8 of the 36 team rankings on Tuesday (9 p.m./Prime Video). “We all know that the Champions League final is coming up in Munich at the end of the season. We also know that we all have to do our homework beforehand,” said President Herbert Hainer.
A place in the upper section of the table would save the German record champions, who are plagued by more and more injuries and are under a lot of strain, an annoying penalty round in mid-February. It would then be a playoff instead of a break, because 16 teams that did not directly qualify for the round of 16 would play the other eight round of 16 teams in the return leg. “Stress is the big issue. For players, for everyone involved,” warned Eberl on BR television. You reach your limits in all the competitions.
XXL season as a big challenge
The muscle injuries to Harry Kane and João Palhinha as well as the newcomers Kingsley Coman and Alphonso Davies already illustrate the challenges for the top clubs in the first half of an XXL season with a Club World Cup after the regular end of the season. Serge Gnabry missed the final training session due to knee problems.
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“I think we are sending a powerful team onto the pitch,” said veteran Thomas Müller, who is hoping for an end to this negative streak after five away games without a win in Europe against Donetsk. During training in Munich, coach Vincent Kompany was able to welcome striker Mathys Tel as an alternative for the anniversary game after he was ill.
Kompany: We’ll give it our all
“We will give everything to end the year successfully,” said Kompany. Based on their round of 16 formula – six wins are enough for the top 8 – the Munich team would have to get nine points as 13th after three wins and two defeats so far in the remaining games against Donetsk, at Feyenoord Rotterdam and at home against Slovan Bratislava.
In order to prepare for the important Shakhtar match, Kompany and his team skipped the annual general meeting on Sunday. In the distance, the Belgian could hear how the importance of the second premier class final after the 2012 final drama against Chelsea FC was emphasized again and again at the members’ convention.
Bayern boss with title announcement
“Our aim must be to be there in the season finale of the Champions League in our own stadium. This time we don’t call it Finale at home, this time we call it Title at home,” CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen shouted to the cheering members. “We know there is still a long way to go. Our players know that too.”
In the team circle, Kimmich thinks it’s “very good to have a very big goal in mind.” Aleksandar Pavlovic, who has recovered from a broken collarbone, will once again play alongside the midfield boss instead of ex-Schalke player Leon Goretzka. “It is very important to win the Champions League,” said the 20-year-old.
The fact that the anniversary is against Donetsk fits into the Champions League history of Munich, who are third in the all-time table behind Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. In 299 games there were 176 wins, 60 draws and 63 defeats for the German industry leader. Bayern celebrated success three times with a seven-goal lead as their highest victories, including in the 2014/15 season in a 7-0 win against Shakhtar.