At the beginning of March, FC Bayern and Bayer Leverkusen meet in the first showdown of the Champions League round of 16. Lothar Matthäus sends a warning to both teams.
The cracker in the premier class casts his shadows ahead. On March 5, FC Bayern receives Doublesieger Bayer Leverkusen for the first leg of the round of 16.
Before that, however, both teams are challenged again in the Bundesliga. FCB travels to VfB Stuttgart on Friday. The following day, Leverkusen meets Eintracht Frankfurt.
Matthew: “Could backfire”
Lothar Matthäus can imagine with a view to these two games that “one or the other important player with a view of the premier class is initially sitting on the bench or being replaced earlier,” he wrote in his column for “Sky”. “But I wouldn’t think it is a good idea to run with a B-Elf, because something like that could backfire.”
The problem: the professionals are not used to such a long break with nine or ten days without competition. “Completely protecting a gambling player could mean that he first has to find the competition rhythm again.”
The exception are struck or injured players such as Joshua Kimmich. The international had injured his thigh against Eintracht Frankfurt. That is why he will probably pause in Stuttgart.
“Joshua Kimmich is indispensable for FC Bayern as an organizer, as a leader, as a personality. But because of his tendon irritation, he will probably not be able to play in Stuttgart. Pavlovic, Goretzka and Laimer are also available as alternatives,” said Matthew.
B-Elf of Bavaria or Leverkusen? Matthew doesn’t believe in it
The DFB record player assumes that Bavaria and Leverkusen will appear “with powerful teams” at the weekend. “Calling up with a complete B-Elf or playing a game will certainly not exist”, the 63-year-old predicts.
Bavaria’s past shape in the Champions League and league may have come “at the right time”, says Matthew. “The coach was able to put his criticisms, the senses were sharpened.”
In the significant success against Frankfurt (4-0), Bayern “again found more about their dominance from the initial phase of the season”.
In mid-February, Bayer Leverkusen and Bavaria had separated with a 0-0 draw in the top game of the Bundesliga. The game dominated the Werkself.