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Memories of ‘81 to act as Bayern warning against Liverpool in UCL
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Bayern Munich has earned a slight advantage after its goalless draw at Liverpool in their UEFA Champions League round-of-16 first leg on Tuesday but past experience against the Reds should act as a warning, club CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said.
The Bavarians were never a big threat at Anfield on Tuesday but were very disciplined at the back despite a string of absences, and the result left the teams with all to play for when they meet again in Munich on March 13.
“We cracked open the door for the return leg,” said Rummenigge, himself a top Bayern and Germany striker in the 1970s and 80s. “It was an outstanding game. (Former Germany coach) Sepp Herberger would have been proud: one for all and all for one.”
“The team did it really well. The coach set up the team perfectly and they were rewarded with this result. But I want to warn against going into the return leg with too much euphoria,” he said. “It is still a dangerous result.”
Together with current club president Uli Hoeness, Rummenigge played in another goalless draw in Liverpool in 1981 only to exit the competition with a 1-1 in Munich.
The Reds scored late in that game to advance on the away goal rule. “We were out with a 1-1. We should not make the mistakes that my team made. We have to deliver a great second game,” Rummenigge said.
Bayern is on the rise after a less than perfect first half of the season and has closed in on Bundesliga leader Borussia Dortmund to within three points having won nine of its last 10 league games. It is also still unbeaten in the UCL.
There was also no sign in Liverpool of its vulnerable backline or individual mistakes that have peppered its season so far.
The German champion will be without suspended top provider Joshua Kimmich as well as Thomas Mueller for the return leg but Bayern coach Niko Kovac should have some of his injured players back, including Leon Goretzka and Arjen Robben.
Kovac also knows that with its confidence brimming Bayern has every right to hope for a spot in the last eight.
“When we have a good structure then it is really difficult to play against us and score. We have reached our goal and now we have to make sure we seal the deal at home,” Kovac said.
Though Bayern is in the driving seat it will be under more pressure at home, according to Liverpool full back Andy Robertson.
While it proved a frustrating night at an expectant Anfield for Juergen Klopp’s side against a disciplined Bayern, it avoided conceding an away goal, which could yet prove crucial.
It means Liverpool can progress with a scoring draw whereas Bayern needs to win on the night to reach the quarterfinals.
“We back ourselves to win any game whether it’s home or away,” Robertson said.
“Going over there, there’s a new challenge, there’s probably a wee bit more pressure on them than us because they’re at home and their fans will start demanding things.”
Liverpool’s attacking trident of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane was not at its sharpest on Tuesday but Robertson expects a different story in Munich.
“Of course they’ll be happier with a clean sheet but a clean sheet at home in the Champions League is so crucial,” he said.
“We know that when we go over there one goal counts as a wee bit more than that, and if we can grab one then they have to score two at least. These are all things that come into play and with the chances we’ve got, if we can be a bit more clinical we believe we can score over there.”
Liverpool will have to improve its European away form, however, after losing all three group games on the road in the UCL this season.
Bayern, on the other hand, has only lost three of its last 30 home UCL games, all to eventual winner Real Madrid.
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