Bayern Munich have been European heavyweights as long as one can remember. Their record 4th consecutive Bundesliga title spells their dominance in Germany, warding off the threat from bitter-rivals Borussia Dortmund.
Carlo Ancelotti is now tasked with bringing Champions League glory back to the Allianz Arena since the time they won it with Jupp Heynckes in 2013. The Germans will look to better their semi-final finish last season and aim for European glory.
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The shrewd acquisitions of Mats Hummels and Renato Sanches will surely bolster their already powerful squad. Carlo Ancelotti’ best team from his great squad could put any team in Europe to the sword.
Here’s a potential starting XI that could light up any stadium in Europe. Great options all around the pitch with not-so-shabby backups too. It all begins with the world’s best goalkeeper.
Goalkeeper
Manuel Neuer
Manuel Neuer has many qualities that make him an effective player for the team. He has an eye for making quick and accurate ball distributions throughout the pitch which is seen in only world class keepers. His athletic build paired with very quick reflexes thwarts even the best strikers in the world.
The standout quality in Neuer is his decision-making, which is paramount for a goalkeeper. Lightning quick runs to block strikers and sweep stray balls makes him an excellent example of the sweeper-keeper role.
With 20 clean sheets from 38 games in the Bundesliga last season, Neuer is a sturdy last line of defence in an attack-oriented Bayern Munich. Letting in only 16 goals last season in the league shows that scoring goals past him is exceptionally difficult.
Defenders
Philipp Lahm
Philipp Lahm has been a major pillar in the recent Bayern success story, as well as the German national team. His composure on the ball in tense situations, as well as his leadership on field makes him one of the first names on the team sheet.
Though age is catching up on the 32 year old, his consistency never seems to drop. His retirement from the national team will help him focus on keeping Bayern on top. Making 26 appearances for Bayern Munich last season, Lahm showed that his experience on the field was still major part in Bayern Munich's domestic success.
Pep Guardiola lauded Lahm's "footballing brain" and his knack for accurate passing and penetrating runs on the flank. Club-captain since the departure of Mark Van Bommel in 2011, he has been the guiding light for the team. Lahm is a fan-favourite as well as any manager’s dream player.
Mats Hummels
Widely regarded as one of the leaders of his position, his €35 million move to Dortmund’s bitter rivals was inevitable after his superb performances for Dortmund. The ball-playing centre-back role is a rare breed in modern football and Hummels is the best example of that role.
He is also a leader of men, who is not afraid to speak out on the field. He can make the Bayern backline, which rarely looked disjoint last season, virtually impenetrable.
Hummels is a beast in the air, winning headers in defence and scoring headers in attack. Strong tackles and perceptive interceptions make him suited for a defensive-midfield position too.
Jerome Boateng
Boateng’s towering presence and strength, coupled with his speed and composure make him a commanding centre-back. With his fellow compatriot Hummels by his side at Bayern this season, the World Cup-winning defensive partnership should offer ample protection for their goalkeeper Neuer.
Boateng was voted 2016 German Footballer of the Year, the first defender to win it since Jurgen Kohler in 1997.
The former Manchester City player has grown into one of the best in the business and seems to rise to the occasion in big games. Germany's 1-0 win over Argentina in the 2014 World Cup Final was courtesy of excellent defending from the Bayern man; the performance resulting in a man of the match award for him.
David Alaba
A youth product of the club, Alaba embodies the Bayern Munich brand of football with quick inter-passing and surging runs in the wide area. He is the club’s youngest ever player to play in a competitive fixture at 17 years, 7 months and 8 days old.
A vital part of the team, the 24-year-old’s peak years are yet to come and he is already a great defender.
Real Madrid reportedly showing interest in signing the left-back, which is testament to the footballing prowess of Alaba. His technicality and set-piece skills make him a one of a kind player. He can whip in goals and accurate crosses from a distance too. Future captain for Bayern possibly?
Midfielders
Xabi Alonso
The deep-lying playmaker is a vital cog in the Bayern wheel. With his wealth of experience, he dictates play and sets the tempo for the team. Alonso possesses great technique, pin-point passing with excellent vision.
Bayern have tied him down to the club, extending his contract till 2017.
He takes long range set-pieces and also has a powerful long range strike.
The Spaniard has a tenacious character leading him to commit rash challenges and a tendency to pick up bookings, which could count as one of his few criticisms. The former Real Madrid and Liverpool midfielder provides cover to the back four and eases the pressure with composed passing.
Arturo Vidal
Winner of the Copa America Centenario, Vidal came into his own towards the end of last season with some stand-out performances for Bayern. He shows complete authority at the centre of the park with excellent distribution and scores vital goals with his box-to-box runs.
He was known as the "warrior" during his time at Juventus, for his hard-tackling and aggressive, tenacious style of play.
Attacking Midfielders
Arjen Robben
Arjen Robben is criticised unfairly, at times, for not passing the ball, but assists figures are always at the top of the rankings
Very fast and technically astute, his creativity forces defenders to foul him consistently just to stop him.
He also tracks back and helps in the defensive side of the game. At 32 years of age, he doesn't seem to have lost any pace.
World-class players can make magic happen at any moment in a match. Robben is one of them. His speed and dribbles could make the difference in a tight match and his goals have won Bayern many matches.
His goal to seal the Champions League title against Dortmund is the pick of the lot. That cut from the right wing and the curler from the inside of his right foot is his trademark goal.
Thomas Muller
Thomas Muller is a livewire who has the special knack for being in the right place at the right time. His intelligent runs on and off the ball gels the whole team together.
An all-around attacker, managers usually hand him a free ticket to roam and cause havoc across the pitch. He regularly featured behind his partner-in-crime Lewandowski, galloping forward to convert crosses.
Joachim Loew, German head coach, calls him a very unorthodox player who lives to exploit gaps in defence. He was the subject of a €100 million bid from Manchester United under Louis Van Gaal, which was rejected immediately by Bayern and refused to entertain any future bids as well.
Muller will always have a special place in the Bayern fans' heart - he is one of them!
Franck Ribery
The emergence of the Robben-Ribery combination has largely been the reason why Bayern Munich have consistently tasted success. Ribery at his peak, without injuries, could be the best winger on the planet. A real crowd-pleaser, he is one of the few players, who with the ball, can express himself and really enjoy football.
His ball control, tricky moves and strong dribbling make him unplayable at times.
For any football fan, Ribery is a joy to watch. His bursts of acceleration leave defenders biting the dust and he sets up teammates with accurate whipped crosses. Like Robben, injuries have plagued his career and at 33 years of age, is entering his twilight years.
Nevertheless, he still impresses on the ball and is widely respected as one of the finest players in world football.
Striker
Robert Lewandowski
Lewandowski was the cause of another transfer saga between Bayern and Dortmund. A pure-bred striker, he shows the desire of a hungry lion, for goals and manages to score consistently for the team. He scored 42 goals in all competitions last season with 30 Bundesliga goals.
His four goals against Real Madrid is a glimpse of the ability Lewandowski brings.
The Polish target-man is the perfect number 9. Fast, tall and strong; Lewandowski has broken several records in Germany. He needs very few chances to put away goals and always has the hunger to sniff out more.
He scored five goals in nine minutes against title rivals Wolfsburg - an unbelievable feat.
Bayern’s new manager Carlo Ancelloti will employ a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Alonso the deepest midfielder. Vidal partners him in midfield with the three attacking midfielders interchanging often. The defence is solid, tried and tested, and have the best goalkeeper as the final guardian of the goal.
The Bayern Munich squad has some great talents in every position and it was difficult to leave out stars like Renato Sanches, Douglas Costa, Thiago Alcantara and Javi Martinez.
