Our next opponents: Champions in pole position

POSITION

Looking back it is hard to believe FC Bayern were down in the dumps at the time of the Oktoberfest. In the last match under Carlo Ancelotti, the team from Munich lost 3-0 away to Paris St Germain in the Champions League and that was followed by a mere draw at Hertha Berlin under interim coach Willy Sagnol. At the start of October they were five points behind Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga. After 15 wins in 16 competitive matches, the fans and journalists at the winter training camp in Doha have almost exclusively seen happy faces amongst the Bayern Munich squad. The main reason for the upturn is clear: Jupp Heynckes is back at the helm at FCB – coming back out of retirement to restore a positive outlook and points. And the former Bayer 04 coach has certainly achieved that. Bayern under Heynckes have turned a five-point deficit in the league into an 11-point lead in two months. In the DFB Cup, Bayern have knocked out two of their toughest rivals in Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, and in the Champions League they face an apparently beatable opponent in Besiktas at the last 16 stage.

PERSONNEL

It is rarely the case that the shirt number of a new signing provokes more discussion than the transfer itself. However, when central striker Sandro Wagner (pictured above) proudly showed off his new red and white kit before Christmas the football world in Germany had to look twice. The Germany striker will play for Bayern with the number two on his shirt – somewhat out of the ordinary for a striker and, at the end of the day, significantly more of a surprise than the transfer, which was in the offing for a long time. “I think the number two is just right as it’s my second go here,” explained the 30--year-old who was unable to make the breakthrough at the record champions as a young player. The Munich-born forward is now back at the club he started with – a second go for him as the second striker at Bayern. The management at the club have long been worried about finding a suitable understudy for Robert Lewandowski. At the same time, it is not certain that Wagner will have to be satisfied with just coming off the bench as a substitute. When FCB flew out to Doha, Heynckes said he wanted to look at a 4-4-2 system with Lewandowski and Wagner both playing up front. It could be the former Hoffenheim player will be the lone striker in the match against Bayer 04. Lewandowski is currently suffering from a knee injury that makes him doubtful for the match at Leverkusen.

PROBLEMS

In addition to Lewandowski, the Heynckes‘ team could also have to cope without another key player against the Werkself. Mats Hummels, who has recently stood out with excellent performances in the Bayern defence in the absence of Jérôme Boateng, was only able to do a limited amount of training in the winter break due to a groin problem and it appears unlikely he will feature against Bayer 04. Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is definitely ruled out with a metatarsal injury as is midfield maestro Thiago due to a thigh problem.

POTENTIAL

In 2013, Jupp Heynckes left the stage of German football with not just one bang. He went into retirement having won the treble. If he succeeds in achieving that master stroke again then that will probably give him the status of immortality. In spite of all modesty, the ambitious Rhinelander is still driven by the determination to bow out in the same way as he is about to start his final second half of the season as a football coach – even though the club management led by Uli Hoeneß played it down at the start of the season making the league title the primary objective. The dominant performances under Heynckes show there could be two or even three titles heading to Munich. The potential is certainly there.

PREDICTION

Regardless of the results at the BayArena, the 11-point lead over their rivals would indicate Bayern are more than likely to win a sixth league title in succession. The record champions have recently found their usual solidity and, at a national level, the squad is above the rest in nearly every position. Whether Heynckes can add more cups to the well-filled trophy cabinet will depend on the luck of the draw and fortune on the pitch for FCB; in the Champions League and beyond it remains to be seen – unlike in recent years – if they can perform well enough in the big matches to be able to beat the favourites in the competition.

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