‘Bayern have problems playing in Bundesliga’

MUNICH: Niko Kovac admits Bayern Munich have a problem with playing in the Bundesliga after his side brushed off recent woeful domestic form with a ive-goal romp in the Champions League.

“It sounds strange, but when we play in the Champions League or against the big names in the Bundesliga, you can see that the team can do it,” said Kovac after Tuesday’s 5-1 romp against Benfica confirmed Bayern’s place in the last 16 of the Champions League.

“However, when we play against the so-called small teams, perhaps we think it’s okay to play at half strength. “Those are the (league) points we are missing at the moment,” he added.

Bayern have taken just eight from a possible 21 points in their last seven Bundesliga games.

However against Benfica, Arjen Robben produced two superb goals before Robert Lewandowski scored with two headers and Franck Ribery netted his first Champions League goal for three years in a gala display.

Yet there were again glimpses of the woeful defending which has cost Bayern so dearly in recent weeks as Benfica scored on the counter-attack when sub Gedson Fernandes netted 48 seconds after coming off the bench.

Bayern have chalked up four wins and a draw to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League at a canter, but their progress in Europe contrasts sharply by their domestic form.