Bayern toasting Bundesliga dominance ahead of Oktoberfest
Bayern Munich’s rivals appear to have thrown in the towel already.
“Bayern’s superiority is striking,” Schalke general manager Christian Heidel said after his team lost to the defending Bundesliga champions on Saturday. “The way they played, I can’t imagine them losing another game.”
Bayern was supposed to have had a tough start against Hoffenheim, Stuttgart, Bayer Leverkusen and then Schalke, last season’s runner-up. But the team’s confidence is booming after winning every game comfortably since its loss to Eintracht Frankfurt in the German Cup final in May.
“It can go on like that,” Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic said.
Ominously for Bayern’s rivals, the Bavarian powerhouse has not lost during Oktoberfest for the last eight years. The 185th edition of the beer-festival in Munich started Saturday and will run until Oct. 7.
While they may indulge themselves by wearing the traditional leather pants of the region, the players will have to resist the temptations of the jugs of wheat beer at the festival - at least until the last Sunday.
“Until then they can maybe drink a radler,” Salihamidzic joked, referring to beer watered down by non-alcoholic soda.
Bayern coach Niko Kovac said the players know what is expected of them during Oktoberfest.
“If they go there, they will certainly be recognised and that won’t go down well. We’ll have time to go there, but now we still have to get points,” Kovac said.
Bayern, which is going for a record-extending seventh straight title, next hosts Bavarian