Bayern unbreachables in charge
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Article summary
RSC Anderlecht must overturn a 5-0 deficit against FC Bayern München, which means dismantling the "best defence" that goalkeeper Oliver Kahn has played with.
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Praise from Kahn
Even Brazilian defender Breno, signed for a reported €12.3m in the winter from São Paulo FC, has failed to win a place in a back four that is unbreached in three March matches and has conceded just eleven goals in 23 Bundesliga games. Such resilience puts them on course to beat Werder Bremen's 1987/88 record of 22 goals against. Goalkeeper Kahn said: "This is the best Bayern defence I have played with." Full-back Marcell Jansen added: "We have a certain aggressiveness as a team and even our strikers work for the defence."
Relaxed
This allows Ottmar Hitzfeld to use one holding midfielder rather than two as had been custom, with the coach explaining: "We are more solid in defence and are set up to win European games too." They proved it in style in Belgium last Thursday when registering a crushing first-leg victory. Hitzfeld, accordingly, can now give a run-out to fringe players such as Toni Kroos, Jan Schlaudraff, José Ernesto Sosa and Andreas Ottl, while also handing a starting debut to Breno. Luca Toni is suspended, Zé Roberto ill and Bastian Schweinsteiger doubtful with a bruised thigh. Bayern defeated Karlsruher SC 2-0 on Saturday.
Anderlecht absentees
If Anderlecht's task was not mammoth enough, defender Nicolás Pareja misses the trip to Munich because of a knee problem, colleague Marcin Wasilewski is banned while midfielder Thomas Chatelle has a stomach injury. Moreover, among the 17-man squad picked by coach Ariel Jacobs, Jan Polák and Mbark Boussoufa are struggling with thigh and toe complaints sustained in Sunday's 2-0 win at R. Charleroi SC. That is even without considering long-term absentees Mbo Mpenza, Jonathan Legear and Nicolas Frutos, or ineligible winter signings Stanislav Vlček and Luigi Pieroni.
Hope diminished
General manager Herman Van Holsbeeck said: "For Anderlecht, our next league match against [KSV] Roeselare is now just as important as the one in Munich. Last week we conceded three goals too many to travel with much realistic ambition. However, I think the coach and the players do not want to suffer the same result as in the first leg."
