Goal-shy Bayern wary of unpredictable Ajax
Dutch side hit scoring form
Munich – Bayern Munich host Ajax in the Champions League today with Niko Kovac needing to fix a leaking defence and a misfiring striking force despite 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 their last 12 matches at home in the UEFA group stages.
However, the five-time UEFA champions finished the weekend second in the German league with a crashing shock 2-0 defeat at Hertha Berlin on Friday.
“It is an important game against Ajax. A win would make it easier for us going into our next four games,” said Bayern head coach Kovac.
Uncharacteristically for Bayern, they conceded a late equaliser in a 1-1 league draw with Augsburg last Tuesday, and suffered a defeat in Berlin, but Kovac remains unfazed.
“You have to differentiate, one is not directly linked to the other,” he insisted.
However, the Bayern boss will be troubled by the ease with which Hertha’s Pal Dardai unpicked the lock of the Bayern defence.
He will seek a tighter performance against Ajax, who are second in the Dutch league after a 2-0 win at Fortuna Sittard on Saturday.
Ajax coach Erik ten Hag will have taken note of how Bayern’s defence was shaken in the first half by Berlin.
Jerome Boateng gave away a penalty by fouling Salomon Kalou which Vedad Ibisevic converted for the opening goal.
Niklas Suele, Bayern’s other centre-back, was out of position when Hertha’s Ondrej Duda, the league’s current top-scorer, smashed home a close-range cross.
Bayern’s star-studded attack has only managed just one goal out of their 40 shots on goal in the last two games.
They could not breach Berlin’s defence despite 25 shots on goal.
Nevertheless, a win over Ajax would boost confidence before Saturday’s home league match against Borussia Moenchengladbach when they aim to catch up on the one-point lead of new Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund. – AFP
Fixtures (9pm unless stated)
Juventus v Young Boys, 6.55pm; Hoffenheim v Manchester City, 6.55
CSKA Moscow v Real Madrid; AEK Athens v Benfica; Manchester United v Valencia; Bayern v Ajax; Roma v Viktoria Plzen; Olympique Lyonnais v Shakhtar Donetsk