CL Preview: Bayern Munich – Steaua Bucharest

Matchday 5 in Group F sees the return game between Bayern Munich and Steaua Bucharest, with the German side needing just a single point to secure their passage through to the knock-out stage.

On the Cusp

The action is coming thick and fast for Bayern with one important match following hot on the heels of another right now. Having produced a rampant display at the weekend against Cottbus, the Bavarians now face Steaua in the Champions League before taking on Bayer Leverkusen in a top-of-the-table clash next weekend in the Bundesliga. 

However, their attention is 100% focused on the Champions League at the moment - and the point they need to make it through to the next phase. Having beaten Steaua in their opening Group F fixture, Bayern then drew with Lyon and beat Fiorentina at the Allianz Arena.

The point they secured at the Artemio Franchi stadium in the last round of matches in Florence has seen them move into a great position in the group and means they require just a draw on Tuesday to guarantee progress. Both they and Lyon have eight points. 

A month ago all the talk was of a possible ‘crisis’ at Bayern, but it now appears likely that the German side will take their place in the last 16 and finish as Winter champions in the Bundesliga.

The defence seems to have become a lot more solid, Franck Ribéry is back to his best and Miroslav Klose has started to look like the world-class striker he can be.

“The Steaua game is unbelievably important,” coach Jürgen Klinsmann admits.  “We have a huge opportunity to book a place in the last sixteen of the Champions League. Everything we’re doing from this moment onwards is focused on one thing, Steaua Bucharest.    

“Steaua have quality, and in a one-off game, you've always got a chance. We have to be switched on and fully committed to ensure there are no slip-ups” he added. 

Stuck In A Rut

If Bayern Munich are coming into form at the moment, the exact opposite can be said of Romanian side Steaua Bucharest. Their last victory came way back on 21 September and although they are in 5th place in their national league, they already find themselves eight points behind leaders Unirea Urziceni. 

Dorinel Munteanu’s side have drawn their last five games and just don’t seem capable of winning right now. The Bucharest outfit travel to Munich knowing they have no chance of getting through to the knock-out phase, but they do still have the chance to finish third which would see them secure a berth in the latter stages of this season’s Uefa Cup.    

Even though Steaua have yet to register a win in Group F, they will take a little heart from the way they played in their opener with Bayern, when a first-half goal from Daniel van Buyten was all that separated the two sides. The home team spurned a few chances of their own and could well have taken something from the game.

They held Fiorentina to a goalless draw in Florence on Matchday 2 before losing both their games against perennial French champions Lyon (5-3 at home and 2-0 away). The Italian side however are only two points ahead of them so it is still mathematically possible for them to grab third place. 

The pressure is therefore already on new coach Dorinel Munteanu, who replaced Marius Lacatus after he was fired in the wake of the 5-3 loss to Lyon. Owner Gigi Becali is famed for firing his coaches and failure to reach the Uefa Cup may (unfairly) cost the current Steaua boss his job.

“Our objective is to qualify for the knockout rounds of the Uefa Cup,” he explained to uefa.com. “We want to show our best side.  It's important for us that our players perform to the maximum of their abilities.

“It's a difficult match. Bayern are favourites, but our players are focused and well-prepared. We have respect for Bayern, but there's no fear” he added.   

FORM GUIDE

Bayern Munich

22/11/08   v Energie Cottbus (h)  WON 4-1  (Bundesliga)

15/11/08  v Bor.Mönchengladbach (a)  DREW 2-2  (Bundesliga)

09/11/08  v Schalke (a)  WON 1-2  (Bundesliga)

05/11/08  v Fiorentina (a)  DREW 1-1  (Champions League)

01/11/08  v Arminia Bielefeld (h)  WON 3-1  (Bundesliga)

29/10/08  v Eintracht Frankfurt (a)  WON 1-2  (Bundesliga)    

Steaua Bucharest

21/11/08  v Universitatea Craiova (a)  DREW 0-0  (Liga 1)

15/11/08  v FC Timisoara (h)  DREW 2-2  (Liga 1)

09/11/08  v FC Rapid Bucharest (a)  DREW 0-0  (Liga 1)

05/11/08  v Olympique Lyonnais (a)  LOST 2-0  (Champions League)

01/11/08  v Dinamo Bucharest (a)  DREW 1-1  (Liga 1)

26/10/08  v Gloria Buzau (h)  DREW 1-1  (Liga 1)

TEAM NEWS

Bayern Munich

Lukas Podolski looks set to win his fitness battle for Tuesday’s clash with Steaua, but it remains to be seen whether that means a return to the bench or whether he will actually get a start.

There is, however, a slight question-mark over centre-back Martin Demichelis. The Argentine scored at the weekend in Bayern’s 4-1 win over Cottbus, but had to be substituted at half-time because of a muscle problem. Daniel van Buyten is on hand to deputise should he miss out. 

It remains to be seen whether Hamit Altintop makes an appearance on the substitutes' bench after his long-awaited return to training this week following his injury. Klinsmann may opt to make a few changes bearing in mind that a point will do, and with a very important clash with Bayer Leverkusen coming up at the weekend.

Probable Starting XI: Rensing, Oddo, Lucio, Demichelis, Lahm, van Bommel, Zé Roberto, Schweinsteiger, Ribéry, Klose, Toni

Steaua Bucharest

Coach Dorinel Munteanu will have to do without the services of defender George Ogăraru after the Romanian international suffered an ankle injury in the recent friendly with Georgia.  He will be on the sidelines until at least January.

Nigerian defender Ifeanyi Emeghara is also missing with a serious knee injury which has seem him miss the entire season so far.  Greek striker Pantelis Kapetanos will miss the trip to Munich with adductor strain.

Probable Starting XI: Zapata, Golanski, Goian, Ghionea, Marin, Tiago Gomes, Radoi, Moreno, Nicolita, Semedo, Stancu

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Bayern Munich- Franck Ribéry

Suffering injury during Euro 2008 meant that Franck Ribéry missed the start of the season as Bayern made their worst start to a Bundesliga campaign for many years. His return to the team has seen an upturn in the Bavarians' fortunes - and that is no coincidence. In the past few games he has been back to his dazzling best and producing the kind of form that had him voted Player of the Year last season in the Bundesliga. Given the chance, he could run riot against Steaua, meaning that Klose and Toni can fill their boots.

Steaua Bucharest- Mirel Rădoi

It isn’t so much an uphill struggle for Steaua to go to the Allianz Arena and win, as a climb up a Bavarian mountain. If they are to produce a shock they will be looking towards captain Rădoi for inspiration. The 27-year-old is the current cult hero at the Carpathian club and will want to help his side reach the consolation prize of the Uefa Cup.
  

 PREDICTION

Bayern may well just need a point on Tuesday to make sure of their place in the knock-out stage of the competition, but it is very difficult to imagine them taking any less than three points from this game. Steaua are struggling domestically and can’t seem to buy a win in Liga 1 right now, having drawn their last five matches.

Bayern are coming into form with star-man Franck Ribéry in scintillating form of late. The only thing that can stop Bayern winning this is complacency, but I fully expect to see a professional approach and for them to progress in some style - and with a hatful of goals, perhaps. 

Bayern Munich 4-0 Steaua Bucharest

Mathew Burt