Most impressive this term has been the absence of any scars borne by Chelsea’s ruination of Bayern’s Dahoam denouement of 2012. After a relative stroll through their pre-Christmas group, this powerful unit swatted Arsenal aside – notwithstanding a curious wobble in the second-leg of that contest. Having hit their stride, Juventus were mastered twice. Then came Tuesday’s ‘confirmation’ of European football’s latest power-shift – the 4-0 thumping of Barca.
Eleven months on from one of their darkest on-field days, Bayern Munich have never had it so good. It isn’t only Guardiola who will arrive in the close-season, as the club christened ‘FC Hollywood’ in their home land seek to develop a hold over football in their own country and beyond.
With a distinct mischievous air, Bayern announced a day ahead of Borussia Dortmund’s seismic clash with Real Madrid that the Westfalenstadion club’s mesmerising 20 year-old attacker Mario Gotze would be switching to the new German champions in July for a record breaking domestic transfer fee of £31.5m.
That is the reality for Dortmund. No matter that they have won the past two editions of the Bundesliga and can presently boast of possessing one of the continent’s finest two teams. Not even a wonderful home arena, to which 80,000 are drawn for every domestic fixture, can guarantee that this progressive outfit will retain its star performers.
There is precedent. The 2011 title triumph was followed by the loss of Nuri Sahin to Real Madrid – although that player is now back on loan at Dortmund. A year on, the club’s twin triumph and the promise of a positive tilt at the Champions League were not enough to keep the excellent Japanese playmaker Shinji Kagawa from the clutches of Manchester United.
Now is undoubtedly the moment for Klopp’s enchanting bunch. Playing at their maximum they are an effervescent, skilful, technical, and irresistible force. Sadly, this campaign’s endeavours are sure to represent a pinnacle for Dortmund’s current class. Lewandowski’s exemplary striking display against Real Madrid will serve to accelerate the Pole’s looming move away from the club.
Dortmund have history on Europe’s loftiest platform. They won a thrilling 1997 Champions League final against Juventus – ironically a match which was staged in Munich. Paulo Sousa and Karl-Heinz Riedle both sought pastures new in the aftermath of that high. It was to be another five years before the championship crown could again be paraded before an adoring ‘Yellow Wall’. When, a mere two years after Dortmund’s grandest day, Manchester United were memorably breaking Bayern hearts in a Nou Camp decider, Die Schwarzgelben were watching on having failed to qualify for any continental action.
Porto won the 2004 Champions League. Far from being a sign of Portuguese football’s emergence as an enduring presence at the top table, that incredible achievement merely signalled an exodus of the club’s key men. Manager Jose Mourinho was followed out of the Estadio Do Dragao by; Deco, Ricardo Carvalho, Pedro Mendes, and Paulo Ferreira. 12 months on from their Mourinho led season of seasons, Porto’s defence of their treasured European trophy lasted until the first knock-out round. To compound the slump, the ‘Dragoes’ surrendered their home championship to Benfica.
After Manchester City had so dramatically wrested the Premier League crown from Manchester United last May, many observers spoke of an inevitable impending shift in the balance of power in English football. The inability of City to train on this term – a failing they share with the marvellous Champions League winning Chelsea vintage – has rendered that prediction premature.
Neither Barcelona, nor Real Madrid, will make the same mistake as their cash-rich counterparts. These two giants of Spain will be hurting. More decisively, they will be plotting. Both possess the clout and the lustre to attract Lewandowski.
This week’s Champions League fare has been simply breath-taking. If Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund complete the job as expected, we will have a tussle to savour on May 25th. That date arrives one month from now. That is how far ahead we can be guaranteed German football domination.
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