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FC Bayern Munich: Three hopes, one fear

By Sean Maslin

Bayern Munich's midfielder Joshua Kimmich (L) celebrates scoring with Bayern Munich's French midfielder Franck Ribery during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Hamburg SV and FC Bayern Munich in Hamburg, northern Germany, on September 24, 2016. / AFP / John MACDOUGALL / RESTRICTIONS: DURING MATCH TIME: DFL RULES TO LIMIT THE ONLINE USAGE TO 15 PICTURES PER MATCH AND FORBID IMAGE SEQUENCES TO SIMULATE VIDEO. == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE == FOR FURTHER QUERIES PLEASE CONTACT DFL DIRECTLY AT 49 69 650050 (Photo credit should read JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images)
Bayern Munich's midfielder Joshua Kimmich (L) celebrates scoring with Bayern Munich's French midfielder Franck Ribery during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Hamburg SV and FC Bayern Munich in Hamburg, northern Germany, on September 24, 2016. / AFP / John MACDOUGALL / RESTRICTIONS: DURING MATCH TIME: DFL RULES TO LIMIT THE ONLINE USAGE TO 15 PICTURES PER MATCH AND FORBID IMAGE SEQUENCES TO SIMULATE VIDEO. == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE == FOR FURTHER QUERIES PLEASE CONTACT DFL DIRECTLY AT 49 69 650050 (Photo credit should read JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Muenchen, Deutschland 21.09.2016, 1. Bundesliga, 4. Spieltag, FC Bayern Muenchen – Hertha BSC, Robert Lewandowski (FCB) (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
Muenchen, Deutschland 21.09.2016, 1. Bundesliga, 4. Spieltag, FC Bayern Muenchen – Hertha BSC, Robert Lewandowski (FCB) (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /

Hope #2: That Robert Lewandowski can come back from a flat European Championship.

At the start of the 2016 Euros much was made of Robert Lewandowski. After another tremendous season with Munich and a strong qualification campaign with Poland, it was expected that the 2016 Euros was going to be Lewandowski’s coming out party on the international.

Although Poland did make it to the Round of 16 Lewandowski was rather quiet throughout the tournament. His goal against Portugal in their final match was his only goal of the tournament and actually his first shot of the tournament something that was a bit astonishing considering the hype early on.

So what is to explain for Lewandowski’s scoring freeze with Poland and should Bayern fans be concerned? In part his drop-off in form relative to his form with Bayern seems to stem from how he is used. Whereas with Poland where it is expected that Lewandowski pretty much does everything, with Bayern he is playing with some of the best attacking players in the world. Robert Lewandowski does not need to be Superman with Bayern Munich; he just needs to be Robert Lewandowski.

There is also a bit of a tactical shift as well. Teams cannot do what Poland’s opponents did at the Euros where he was the most fouled player in the tournament. Key up Lewandowski and Bayern can either use Thomas Muller, Kingsley Coman, Xabi Alonso, Arjen Robben, or Arturo Vidal to create attacking chances. It is what makes Bayern such a difficult opponent: their depth and balance is only matches by a few sides in the world.

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