By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Ahead of Bayern Munich's Champions League opener against underdogs Red Star Belgrade, statistics only play a minor role. Instead, Niko Kovac is still puzzling over the most promising line-up. Before crossing swords with the Serbian Champion this Wednesday evening, the Bavarian's coach hasn't yet found the best solution.
A bumpy start in the national league containing a fair amount of disappointment is telling the story. While the 2013 treble winner is aiming at its 16th consecutive victory in a curtain-raiser on home soil, reports speak of the 47-year-old having to deliver to make up for the poor performance in last season's Champions League campaign.
The group stage won't turn into a nail-biting issue for the ruling German Champions, but the knock-out stage is said to be essential when the club from Southern Germany might meet one of the so-called big guns of European football.
Over the past three years, Bayern didn't manage to beat either Atletico (2016), Real Madrid (2017/2018) or Liverpool (2019).
The latest statements of Karl-Heinz Rummenigge came near a warning shot with the club's chairman talking about this season's goals. The former German international demanded significant improvements regarding the team's progress in the Champions League.
"We want to survive more of the knock-out round as last year," Rummenigge said.
Having gambled away the last-16-round against Liverpool last March, Kovac is now facing a crucial stress-test. The coach has to find solutions for his renewed squad updated with 80-million transfer Lucas Hernandez and Brazilian midfield star Coutinho.
While the attacking line seems to meet expectations, problems are looming in midfield and the back-row.
Bayern's midfield duo of Thiago Alcantara and Joshua Kimmich is said to have not enough destructive force to stop sharp offense lines but instead deliver a high amount of creativity. Regarding his back-row Kovac seems still uncertain about the most promising composition.
Pundits debate about a possible move of Kimmich to the right-back position due to apparent problems of 2018 World Champion Benjamin Pavard. Reports speak of Kimmich delivering more support for the forwarding game.
With left-back, David Alaba side-lined due to an injury Hernandez seems to move to the left side while Niklas Suele and Jerome Boateng do the job in central defense. French Corentin Tolisso might accompany Thiago ahead of the back-row.
Losing to Liverpool Kovac was accused of a having acted far too cautiously. Discussion about the team's general approach is ongoing. After Bayern's 1-1 draw against national rival, RB Leipzig Kovac faced new criticism as he was under attack due to his defensive substitutions and his team tumbling into obvious difficulties.
Considering the upcoming Bundesliga game against newly promoted 1. FC Cologne only three days after Belgrade, Serge Gnabry is likely to get a break with new arrival Ivan Perisic replacing the German international on the left-wing.
The attacking fraction might be completed with Kingsley Coman, Coutinho and Robert Lewandowski.
French 2018 World Champion Tolisso openly spoke about the clubs' desire. It is about time to again win the Champions League he commented adding his side has the quality to pace out this season's favorites such as Liverpool, Manchester City, and Barcelona.
Kovac might be in the picture and aware of what is expected. Facing Belgrade can only be the first step on a long and stony road with many more challenges to come.
