Tottenham face a fading force in Bayern Munich in the Champions League
When Bayern Munich were knocked out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage three seasons ago it appeared to mark the beginning of their decline.
A 6-3 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid saw them exit the competition at the earliest stage since 2011.
They rebounded with a sixth semi-final appearance in seven seasons in the 2017-18 campaign, but last year’s round of 16 defeat to Liverpool seemed to confirm the worst: the rot has set in.
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Once again they are in a Champions League group they should comfortably qualify from – if not win – due to the inferiority of opponents like Red Star Belgrade and Olympiacos and the indifferent form of tonight’s opponents, Tottenham, in what is essentially their toughest match.
But how much further they will go is now much less assured than it once was.
In fairness, Bayern have been eliminated from the Champions League by the eventual winners in each of the last three seasons, and five of the last six dating back to their last win in 2013.
But it is hard to escape the feeling that this once star-studded side, who reached back-to-back finals in 2012 and 2013, are now lacking the abundance of quality that made them one of Europe’s elite.
Domestic challenge
Both Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery are gone and their departures have coincided with the retirement of captain Philipp Lahm, one of the most decorated players in football history, as well as Xabi Alonso and Bastian Schweinsteiger.
When you add the exits of players such as Mats Hummels, Rafinha, Mario Gotze, Juan Bernat, Mario Mandzukic, Arturo Vidal, the ageing of Thomas Muller and Jerome Boateng, and persisting knee problems of Javi Martinez, a clear picture of why this side has begun to stutter emerges.
Long gone, too, are Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti, with the less decorated Niko Kovac currently at the helm.
They are yet to relinquish their dominant grip on the Bundesliga, claiming their seventh successive title last season, but Borussia Dortmund ran them as close as anyone has lately, finishing just two points behind.
This year their dominance looks set to be challenged again – not just by Dortmund, but also by RB Leipzig, who continue to upset the status quo. It is just Leipzig’s fourth season in the German first tier, having risen rapidly from the fourth division since being bought by Red Bull in 2009.
They are one of five teams only one point behind Bayern in the table and held the reigning champions to a 1-1 draw at the Red Bull Arena two weeks ago.
This, then, could be the most competitive title race Germany has seen since the turn of the decade.
Pivot to youth and loans
Bayern still possess a squad capable of winning the Bundesliga and progressing deep into Europe’s elite competition.
They are yet to lose in six league matches this season, although have uncharacteristically drawn two, and comfortably beat Red Star 3-0 in their first Champions League match.
But the pivot towards talented youngsters such as Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry and dependence on loan deals for out-of-favour names like James Rodriguez and now Philippe Coutinho highlights a paradigm shift from a club no longer willing or able to sign the very best players.
Robert Lewandowski has been the one saving grace, the connection between the previous era and this one, and he continues to prove one of the most clinical No9s on the planet, with 10 league goals in six matches already this season and 12 in all competitions.
The squad is currently undergoing a complete overhaul, though, not dissimilar to other European giants Real Madrid, Juventus and Barcelona.
It means the Champions League is as unpredictable as it has ever been and that when Bayern visit last year’s runners-up tonight it could go either way.
Spurs come into the match with their own difficulties, although they are less to do with a change in personnel and more to do with an apparent change in mindset.
Their form has been disappointing, particularly away from home, surrendering 2-0 leads at Arsenal and Olympiacos as well as losing a Carabao Cup tie to League Two side Colchester.
Fortunately for Spurs they are at home tonight, but they must tap into the energy that saw them claim victories against Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, Ajax and Manchester City on their way to the final last season if they are to come away with all three points.
Bayern may be a shadow of their former Champions League-winning selves, but they should not be written off.
Only time will tell whether they can go as deep as their predecessors in this year’s competition.
Main image credit: Getty