Bayern has a point to prove against Wolfsburg (preview)

FC Bayern has a point to prove at home against VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday at 9:30 Eastern (15:30 in Germany), against team that probably is the best kind of victim for the occasion.

Live on television
United States: ESPN3
Canada: Nothing
United Kingdom: ESPN

On the Wolfsburg side: balance needed

The return of Felix Magath has produced nothing comparable to his first tenure in the Volkswagen stronghold.

As my colleague Steve reported, Magath made his team a revolving door. He bought 21 players and sold 18. How can you get the kind of balance and stability to go anywhere this season with such policy? Their ninth place in the rankings is justified until the young talents settle in.

The other question is: can Magath keep using his cold military methods for long in such circumstances? The first time, Bayern was able to pull out a win despite playing badly. It showed the sad state of affairs for the green men.

This doesn’t mean there aren’t respected players in that lineup. Striker Mario Mandzukic is not someone you can laugh at. His ball control and headers can produce great goals if you provide him with service.

Midfielder Christian Träsch and defender Marcel Shäfer can give him some of that. Träsch has the whole package as far as skills are concerned, although that’s not enough to remain on the national team. So does Petr Jiracek, one hell of a runner recently acquired from Viktoria Plzen.

Ricardo Rodriguez, who previously was in Zürich, is a respected young left back who can threaten a defense. We saw his quality when he played against FCB in the Champions League. Felipe Lopes, at central defense, also is good and he can win challenges. Forward Vierinha is interesting. In limited time, he showed much promise.

There are other “new boys in town”, but we are are less likely to see them.

So far this season, defense has been decent at home, but it has conceded too often away. The main problem for Wolfsburg, however, is scoring. You can’t win with 1.33 goal per game in the Bundesliga, and only 1.00 when playing away.

Diego Benaglio is the most important player in the squad for now. His goalkeeping abilities are well known.

Of course, the visitors boast a vintage Bayern player in Hasan Salihamidzic, who is still very appreciated in Munich. On the other hand, his abilities are not the same than they previously were. The same limited impact can be expected for Thomas Hitzlsperger. In the last few years, The Hammer has sunk.

It remains a question to see what kind of side Magath will send on the pitch with all the changes. Will he go for a traditional 4-4-2, as he did last week against Köln? Or some of previous formations such as 4-1-4-1 and 4-4-1-1? It is anyone’s guess until he makes it clear.

On the Bayern side: three points needed

As I said in the lead paragraph, this team has a point to prove. The loss against Gladbach last week was worse than in the first week.

Reinforcements will be available, however. Franck Ribéry returns from suspension, bringing some much needed creativity on the left wing.

The absence of Daniel van Buyten will force Jupp Heynckes to go with a combination such as Jerome Boateng in central defense and Rafinha at right-back. The Brazilian has his chance to convince that he should start most games at that position, with the kind of versatility that made his reputation. I suggest that he watches the tapes of his first games this season, for inspiration.

Expect Manuel Neuer to want to make a statement if the ball gets anywhere near him. Keepers like him never allow themselves to go down in flames for a bad goal. They tend to rebound.

Other than that, the team should be very familiar on Saturday. The only things that counts are form and earning three points. Dortmund, Schalke and Mönchengladbach are dangerous and FCB has to make its intentions clear.

I expect a win.