Kovac’s Bayern in disarray
Bayern Munich host Ajax in the Champions League tonight with coach Niko Kovac needing to fix a poor 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 five-time 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 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,” he added.
However, the Bayern boss will be troubled by the ease with which Pal Dardai’s Hertha unpicked the lock of the Bayern defence.
He will seek a tighter performance against Ajax, who are second in the Dutch Eredivisie after a 2-0 win at Fortuna Sittard on Saturday.
Bayern’s star-studded attack also has a point to prove against Ajax after just having just one Arjen Robben goal, in the 1-1 draw with Augsburg last Tuesday, to show for 40 shots on goal in their last two games.
Even the likes of James Rodriguez, Franck Ribery, Robben and Robert Lewandowski could not breach Berlin’s defence despite 25 shots.
Nevertheless, a win over Ajax would boost confidence before Saturday’s home league match against Borussia Moenchengladbach when they can aim to make up the one-point gap behind new Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund. –