Bayern Munich take a massive step towards the title as they beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 at home on Tuesday.
One step closer 🙌
🔴⚪ #FCBB04 2-0 pic.twitter.com/2wKQvhJwiO
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) April 20, 2021
The game started off brightly with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scoring a 6th minute close range finish, sending Bayern into the lead. Soon, Joshua Kimmich doubled the lead in the 13th minute with a well-taken curler. The midfield of Alaba, Kimmich, and Muller were exceptional all the night with their cohesive link-up play with the wingers which gave the Leverkusen defenders a lot of trouble.
Leverkusen did not go down without a fight though as they regularly tried to jeopardize Bayern captain Manuel Neuer’s goal in the second half, but in vain. RB Leipzig’s 2-1 loss to Koln earlier today would mean that if the Bavarians win their next game, they will go on to win a ninth straight title before the end of this month.
Here are 3 key takeaways from the fixture:
BAYERN, YOU DID WELL 👏👏
It would be silly of us not to talk about this game without the context of the recent developments regarding the European Super League. And Bayern Munich were in the forefront of it, in a positive way, as they, along with Borussia Dortmund, were the first of the leading clubs to decline any notions of them joining the Twelve Clubs in the Super League.
At first, it was reported by reliable journalists that the German club, with PSG, were not going to join the other 12 clubs. Later Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge also said that the club did not participate in the planning of the Super League and that they were committed to their domestic league and the UEFA Champions League.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge: “FC Bayern did not participate in the planning of a #SuperLeague. We are convinced that the current Champions League in football guarantee a reliable basis”. 🔴 #Bayern #FCBayern
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 19, 2021
Finally, on Tuesday, before their game against Leverkusen, an official statement was released by Bayern, saying:
“FC Bayern München has a clear stance on the issue of the Super League. “Our members and fans reject a Super League,” said President Herbert Hainer.”
“As FC Bayern, it is our wish and our aim that European clubs live the wonderful and emotional competition that is the Champions League, and develop it together with UEFA. FC Bayern says no to the Super League.”
Germany is known for their famous 50%+1 rule, where the fans own the majority of the club and Bayern, alongside other German clubs displayed the same with great intensity and desire.
CHOUPO-‘GOAL’TING?
When Robert Lewandowski was diagnosed with a knee injury while on international duty, nobody had expected Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to fill his shoes as Bayern Munich’s number 9, albeit not at the same level. But the former Stoke City forward has been an untouchable for Hansi Flick in Lewandowski’s absence.
Choupo-Moting after scoring his goal against Bayer Leverkusen. (Image Courtesy: Bayern Munich / Twitter)
With 4 goals in 7 games, of which 3 were in the Champions League, Choupo-Moting has not displayed his poacher instincts but also his all-round play has come into play heavily, although he has no assists to show for. And this doesn’t include the countless offside goals that he wasn’t given!!!😄😄
Jokes apart, the Cameroonian has been an able deputy for Bayern’s talisman and the club will hope that he will continue to do so.
HELLO, NEXT SEASON!!
With the season nearly done and dusted, the board will need to have keen look into the future of the club. Although it is being officially denied by the club that Hansi Flick is going to leave at the end of the season, the chances of him staying are pretty slim after his personal announcement.
🚨 Hansi Flick has Announced He will be Leaving Bayern Munich at The End of The Season. ☹️💔
He is set to Become German National Team's Next Manager After The Euro 2020.
WHAT A TIME HE'S HAD AT BAYERN. 🙌🏻🔥 pic.twitter.com/yTnwKJLxIg
— AZR (@AzrOrganization) April 17, 2021
And the offer to take over the German national team might be the tipping point in Flick’s decision about his future because, after all, he has won everything that is there to be won at the club level. We, at FootTheBall, looked at the potential replacements at Bayern, with Julian Nagelsmann and Massimiliano Allegri emerging as the favourites.
Also, with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge stepping down as the CEO at the end of the year and Oliver Kahn replacing him, the power dynamics at Bayern are going to change and it is certain that those changes will have an aftereffect on European football as a whole.