MISFIRING BAYERN WITH POINT TO PROVE AGAINST AJAX

MUNICH: Bayern Munich host Ajax in the Champions League on Tuesday with Niko Kovac needing to fix a leaking defence and lack of finishing after yielding top spot in the Bundesliga.

The clash at Munich’s Allianz Arena could well decide Group E after Bayern claimed a 2-0 win at Benfica in the opening round a fortnight ago while Ajax won 3-0 at Greek side AEK.

Dauntingly for Ajax, Bayern have won the last 12 matches at home in the Champions League’s group stages. However, the fivetime European champions finished the weekend second in the German league after crashing to a shock 2-0 defeat at Hertha Berlin on Friday after being outplayed in the capital.

“It is an important game against Ajax. A win would make things easier for us going into our next four games,” said coach Kovac. “Many people said we wouldn’t lose a game in the (Bundesliga) this season, but now it has happened in no time at all.”

Uncharacteristically for Bayern, they leaked a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Augsburg last Tuesday, which was followed by the defeat in Berlin, but Kovac remains unfazed. However, the Bayern boss will be troubled by the ease with which Pal Dardai’s Hertha unpicked the lock of the defence. He will seek a tighter performance against Ajax, who are second in Dutch league after Saturday’s 2-0 win at Fortuna Sittard. Ajax coach Erik ten Hag will have taken note of how Bayern’s defence was shaken in the first half by Berlin. Jerome Boateng needlessly gave away penalty by fouling Salomon Kalou. Niklas Suele, Bayern’s other centreback, was out of position when Hertha’s Ondrej Duda, the league’s current top-scorer with five goals in six games, smashed home a close-range cross. AFP