Page 40 - Soccer360 Issue 105

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPOTLIGHT
ABOVE:
FC Bayern Munich - Manchester United, Group stage, Group A, Matchday 1, Allianz Arena, Bayern’s Mathys Tel (l) and Alphonso Davies celebrate after the match
LEFT:
Alphonso Davies has had success in Bayerm Munich and has proved to be pivitol in key games
BAYERN ON THE BRINK
BAYERN MUNICH’S STRANGLEHOLD
ON THE DOMESTIC CROWN IS UNDER SERIOUS THREAT THIS SEASON, AND
DIE ROTEN ARE UNDER INCREASING PRESSURE TO MAKE AMENDS IN EUROPE. MICHELLE OSEI BONSU PROVIDES A LOOK AT THE SITUATION FACING THE GERMAN GIANTS, AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR STAR STRIKER HARRY KANE AS WELL AS MANAGER THOMAS TUCHEL.
Since the 2011-12 season, there has been only one winner
of the Bundesliga: Bayern Munich. Their unprecedented level of dominance over the past decade has split opinion. Supporters have hailed how die Roten have transformed the German football landscape and raised its status across Europe, while critics feel
that they have turned the
Bundesliga into a predictable and boring one-horse league. However, for
the first time in seemingly ages, Bayern’s stranglehold over the Bundesliga title seems to be finally weakening. In fairness, last season’s title race was one that actually kept most fans entertained - perhaps
except Bayern supporters - with Borussia Dortmund coming painfully close to finally ending Bayern’s reign on the final matchday.
While die Roten managed to scrape their 11th successive crown by the slimmest
of margins, there was a feeling in some quarters that the Bavarian titans had really pushed their luck and may not be quite so fortunate next time around.
This season’s title race has turned out to
be another interesting one, with Bayer Leverkusen really making a huge splash in Germany and becoming a formidable team in their own right. Led by Xabi Alonso, die Werkself have been truly transformed and made a massive statement of their intent by crushing Bayern 3-0 on matchday 21.
While there are still plenty of games to go between now and the end of the 2023-24 Bundesliga season, it is safe to say that Bayern Munich will likely be facing a real challenge to successfully defend their domestic crown for a 12th consecutive time. If they were to win it again, then they will have truly done it the hard way.
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