Bayern Munich will head to the quarterfinals of the Champions League after taking down Arsenal 3-1 over the course of three legs. Many have anointed this team the favorite to repeat as champions and it is hard to ignore that possibility. Under Pep Guardiola, the team has found efficiency in its passing and use of speed that has somehow eclipsed even the loftiest form under Jupp Heynckes. But is the success sustainable this year? Or is there another team that can take down the mighty Bavarians?
There are still six round of 16 matchups to be completed, and at this point anything can happen. Barcelona could still blow its 2-0 lead over Manchester City with a repeat performance of its weekend loss against Real Valladolid (the odds of that happening, however, are highly unlikely). Manchester United could still make a historic comeback against Olympiacos (though one doubts that David Moyes has any new tricks to pull out). Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain have all but booked a ticket to the next round (barring some disaster for the three sides). The Chelsea-Galatasaray match may be the only one with any actual suspense as the two sides head to Stamford Bridge knotted up at one.
Of these likely round of 16 winners, which ones actually stand a chance against Guardiola's machine of superstars?
Sadly, one would have to rule out Barcelona. This matchup would likely set up an interesting battle for possession. The Spanish side has long been dominant in that form of passing soccer, but its star is waning with the aging of its players. If the team was unable to use its possession to an advantage against Munich in last year's 7-0 whipping, then what chance does it stand when the Bavarians not only play the same passing style, but play it with greater speed and variety? One must also note that Pep Guardiola is running the show for Bayern and knows the strengths and weaknesses of the Barcelona stars he once coached; and sadly there are more weaknesses at this point in time then when he was the coach.
Borussia Dortmund could scare Munich, but the team has barely threatened the Bavarians in any of their domestic league matchups and has also displayed erratic form. Throw in the team's seemingly weak defense and Munich's potent ability to stiffly Jurgen Klopp's speed game and you have a recipe for disaster for Dortmund.
Chelsea is always an interesting prospect, especially when you consider the UCL final two years ago and the Euro Super Cup earlier this season in which the outcome was decided via penalties. Chelsea is in arguably better form at the present moment and Jose Mourinho always relishes a chance to outcoach Pep Guardiola and he has done it a number of times in the last few years.
PSG could also be a contender to top Munich, but it seems more like a one-trick pony than a side capable of truly neutralizing Munich's possession. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a huge difference maker in any match, but even he could not overcome an admittedly weak Barcelona side a year ago in the UCL quarterfinals.
That leaves Real Madrid as the only major contender to take down Munich.
The team has been unbeaten for months and has arguably the most lethal set of forwards in the entire world. Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema are hitting their peaks at the right time and could terrorize any defense, which they have. Munich is a strong defensive side, but even that team would struggle to contain the speed that Madrid's top players have exhibited time and again. The team's defense could be suspect, but it is filled with aggressive players that could easily neutralize Munich's best. And that is without considering the men in the middle of the park.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti's preferred rotation of Angel Di Maria, Luka Modric and Xabi Alonso has been extremely effective and dominant and would give Munich's own midfielders a tough challenge. Unlike Barcelona, Real Madrid moves with pace and has tremendous creativity in its midfield and forwards. While they would remain the underdogs in a game against Munich, they would be the team best poised to topple the Bavarians.