Their Bundesliga rivals are waving the white flag for the fourth season in a row, but fear of more UEFA Champions League failure is driving Bayern Munich on in Germany.
The Bavarian giants opened a seven-point lead in the Bundesliga table on Sunday with a 5-1 thrashing of Borussia Dortmund at home and it seems only a huge effort from a rival club could deny Bayern the title.
Last season’s runners-up VfL Wolfsburg were hammered by the same scoreline two weeks previously.
Photo: EPA
With eighth straight league wins for Pep Guardiola’s side and 28 goals scored to just four conceded, it is the best start to a season in the league’s history at this stage.
It seems foolish to suggest the title race could be over this early, but the lead has an ominous air, with Bayern having won the Bundesliga by 10, 19 and 25 points respectively in the past three seasons.
Die Roten are chasing an unprecedented fourth consecutive title and Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel gave a clear answer when asked if Bayern have serious rivals in Germany: “No, of course not.”
Dortmund were the last team to deny Bayern the Bundesliga, in 2011-2012, and Tuchel explained why the Munich giants are peerless.
“It is in everything. From the quality of the atmosphere they have created here, to the level Pep Guardiola has reached with the attitude, the greed and the decisive sharpness they showed against us,” he said.
However, Guardiola dismissed any premature talk as he targets a repeat of their 2012-2013 treble of Champions League, Bundesliga and DFB Pokal in the third, and possibly final, year of his contract.
“We will be German champions if we manage it,” the Spaniard said.
Any of his squad dreaming of the title faces a rude awakening.
“Anyone who thinks it is over will have big problems with the coach,” Guardiola said.
Wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery are a case in point.
Both are currently sidelined by injuries, but in their absence, Brazil winger Douglas Costa and France under-21 talent Kingsley Coman are now shoo-ins on Bayern’s flanks.
Both were signed as Bayern were found wanting for pace out wide in the Champions League semi-finals last season when Robben and Ribery again picked up injuries.
Bayern were humbled 3-0 at Barcelona, then beat the Spaniards 3-2 in Munich before exiting at the semi-final stage for the second time under Guardiola, having bowed out to Real Madrid in 2013-2014.
Bayern are currently top of Group F after wins at Olympiakos (3-0) and at home to Dinamo Zagreb (5-0). They face bottom side Arsenal away in two weeks.
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