Champions League: Bayern Munich in the round of 16

Bundesliga

Liveticker | Schedule | table

Employees of the season : This week has been a bad news and a good news for FC Bayern: Striker star Robert Lewandowski undergo an operation on the groin. However, the scorer is painless, can decide for himself when the surgery should take place, and of course it will not take place now during his current dream form. So the Munich Lewandowski knew on this evening in the Champions League against Olympiakos Piraeus on their side - the attacker continued his impressive run and is now at 21 competitive matches after 17 season missions. So many hits, but this was especially important.

Result : The Lewandowski goal in the 69th minute was the redemption of a moderate Bayern game after the separation of coach Niko Kovac. The 2-0 by Ivan Perisic in the 89th minute made the first win under interim coach Hansi Flick perfect. Thus, Bayern are ahead of schedule in the second round of the premier class. Click here for the game report.

The first impression : security measures are part of the standard repertoire of new coaches in crisis-ridden teams, and the former assistant to coach Joachim Loew is considered a particularly pragmatic coach. So it was not surprising that Flick started there, where it hurt the Bayern under former coach Kovac particularly often: in the central midfield and the center of defense. Without the weakening Thiago and with Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich and behind Javi Martínez and David Alaba in central defense defensive problems (so far 16 goals in the Bundesliga) should play no role in the Flick debut.

photo gallery

7 pictures

Pragmatiker and Tüftler : Now Olympiakos Piraeus is as last of the Bayern group not the opponent, before whose offensive one must establish a fortress established over years and instead dare smaller experiments like the new defending duo Martínez / Alaba. The lineup of Munich should have been so already in the direction of Borussia Dortmund and Bundesliga top duel on Saturday (18.30 clock, live ticker SPIEGEL ONLINE, TV: Sky), especially because then even Jérôme Boateng (one of the last healthy budget central defender in the squad) because his red card against Eintracht Frankfurt will be missing.

First half : It went off as you might expect, when the creative passer Thiago or Coutinho sit outside. It was characterized by little ideas in the ball distribution and long mediocre scoring opportunities: long-range Leon Goretzka (5 minutes), header Lewandowski (25), Solo Kingsley Coman (34). The best opportunity was awarded to Benjamin Pavard when he hit the post after a header (45 ').

Start of the second half : Whether in recent days on the Säbener road again the Flickschen standard castings as once took place during the World Cup 2014, is not known. But when Joshua Kimmich strode to corners or free-kicks, it became dangerous. Shortly after the break Goretzka missed a big chance after a Kimmich free kick, already the post goal by Pavard had come after a corner.

Lewandowski rescues : While the DFB team also had other solutions than Flicks standards in 2014, the Bayern remained against Piraeus from the game mostly haphazard. And although this situation lasted until late in the middle of the second half, Thiago, Ivan Perisic (on 88 minutes in) and Coutinho (extra time) continued to sit on the bench. But then came the 69th minute, then came Lewandowski, as he held fast with a sharp cross from Coman his foot.

31 - since he joined Bayern Munich in 2014/15, scored more group stage goals in the #UCL than Robert Lewandowski (31 - same as Messi), and he has now scored in each of his eight games in the competition. Bagsman. pic.twitter.com/HcRYJuAgyr

Eiertanz : As slow as Bayern's performance on offense was long, so vague remained the statements of who should sit in the future on the Munich coaching bank. Clear announcements are unlikely, especially when sports director Hasan Salihamidzic speaks into the microphone. The man (far) behind the bosses Uli Hoeneß and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge acted in the Sky interview once more like a club ambassador without a speech. Is there anything to the rumors about Ralf Rangnick? "I can not confirm." What about Arsène Wenger? "Do not comment on names." Is Flick a solution until summer? "I'm glad that Hansi Flick is here."

Recognition of the game: The zero was once again on the defensive. But if you would use that alone as a crucial success against Piraeus, it would be alarming to Bayern. Against the alarm in Munich speak the naked numbers: twelve points after four Champions League games, early knockout round. The problem: Even under Kovac voted for a long time the results, the playful development, however, he did not succeed. Should Hansi Flick be entrusted with this task? Piraeus was only a small application for a longer employment, the more important reference is the Dortmund match on Saturday.

Bayern Munich - Olympiacos Piraeus 2: 0 (0: 0)
1: 0 Lewandowski (69.)
2: 0 Perisic (89.)
Munich: New - Pavard, Alaba, Martinez, Davies - Kimmich, Goretzka (82nd Tolisso) - Gnabry (88th Perisic), Müller, Coman (90th + 1 Coutinho) - Lewandowski
Piraeus: José Sa - Elabdellaoui, Rúben Semedo, Meriah, Tsimikas - Guilherme, Camara, Bouchalakis (71st Valbuena) - Randjelovic (61st Masoura), Guerrero, Podence (79th El Arabi)
Referee: Pawel Raczkowski
Yellow cards: none
Spectators: 70,000