They are the squad that has made the rest of the Bundesliga season a mere formality already while also having secured their spot in the Champions League Round of 16. And yet, it feels as though Bayern Munich isn’t talked about enough as the most dominant club team in all of soccer. Perhaps it’s the perennial battle between Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid and Lionel Messi with Barcelona in Spain or maybe it’s that the Bundesliga doesn’t get the same type of coverage around the world that the Premier League receives but for one reason or another, Bayern still doesn’t get the respect it deserves. Ronaldo and Messi have made the Ballon d’Or presentation an individual battle over the past few years and while neither plays in Germany the bounty of superstars that calls the Allianz Arena home more than make up for it in keeping Bayern Munich a cut above the rest. Even though other teams have bigger stars, collectively, Bayern might be the most complete star-studded cast. Here’s three reasons why they’re the best bet to take home the Champs League crown.
They Don’t Rely On One Player
It wasn’t long ago that ex-Real Madrid, Schalke, and Dortmund defender Christoph Metzelder seemingly stirred the pot when he said that Bayern Munich lack a player like Ronaldo. However, while on the surface that might seem like a slight, what was lost in translation to most people was that he meant it in a positive light as in that they didn’t have that one single superstar that shines brighter than the rest. When that’s the case, it can be a liability where they are turned to carry the club on their own. Ronaldo gets plenty of attention and rightfully so but on days where he struggles with his form – even a little bit – it can serve as a weakness for a Real Madrid side that relies so heavily on him. Ronaldo and Messi might be soccer’s two biggest superstars but there are plenty of star players around the world and it makes sense that having multiple star players that can share the responsibility and establish a strong chemistry could be a better formula than relying so heavily on one individual.
The Strength Of Many
Bayern Munich certainly exemplifies that philosophy with a roster loaded with superstar talent including the likes of Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, Mario Gotze, Robert Lewandowski, and Thomas Muller.
Even goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is beginning to get the recognition he deserves as a Ballon d’Or candidate this year after he helped lead Germany to a World Cup while holding down the fort in goal for Bayern. Pep Guardiola is a master manager when it comes to putting his players in the best possible position to maximize their strengths and allow them to thrive and he has had no shortage of options since arriving from Barcelona. The cumulative strength of all of the firepower they have at their disposal is a situation where they can play off one another’s strengths and maximize their potential. That provides so much more than any one single superstar would be able to bring to the table.
Team-Wide Balance
The numbers illustrate this concept perfectly when it comes to the scoring talent on the roster as four different players have scored seven goals or more for Bayern Munich this season. Robben has led the way with 10 goals while Lewandowski, Muller, and Gotze have each chipped in with seven. The embarrassment of riches up front has allowed Guardiola to move players in to different roles where they aren’t relied on as heavily for scoring and that has helped make up for the loss of captain Phillip Lahm. Meanwhile, a player like Sebastian Rode ranks second on the team with four assists and yet for those that don’t pay close attention to the Bundesliga or Bayern in the Champions League, he might remain somewhat of an unknown commodity.
Under-The-Radar Contender
Bayern’s dominance in both the Bundesliga and in the Champions League is testament to how powerful the club has become. While they might not get the same attention without a superstar presence like Ronaldo or Messi, the wealth of talent they have throughout the roster has more than made up for it. Stars like Robben and Muller and Neuer have transformed Bayern in to an absolute powerhouse and the fact that the talent throughout the roster has meshed so well has kept them a cut above the rest in Europe.
