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VALENCIA, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 20: Javi Martinez of Bayern Muenchen looks on before the UEFA Champions League group F match between Valencia CF and FC Bayern Muenchen at Estadio Mestalla on November 20, 2012 in Valencia, Spain.
As the top 16 clubs of Europe eagerly look forward to the draw for the knock-out stages of this year’s UEFA Champions League, the group tables after the sixth match-day are a welcome sight for the Bundesliga faithful. The three clubs representing Germany i.e. Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04, each topped their respective groups and have certainly drawn the attention of the perennial big-shots of Europe.
It has been a while since a German club, other than Bayern Munich, demanded so much respect from their European rivals. This season though, it is proving to be a whole new ball-game. With Dortmund having upset the odds to claim top spot in the so-called ‘Group of Death’ defeating the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid; and Schalke remaining unbeaten in Group B, Bayern Munich cannot be considered to be the only German conundrum for the rest of Europe.
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MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 06: Borussia Dortmund head coach Jurgen Klopp (2nd R) talks with his team after Borussia Dortmund drew 2-2 against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League Group D match between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on November 6, 2012 in Madrid, Spain.
Bayern Munich, with their strengthened squad, have definitely produced fine displays, but it was the attacking flair and speed of Dortmund that left football lovers begging for more. Marco Reus and Mario Gotze have been nothing short of sensational in the group stages, and with the towering pair of Mats Hummels and Neven Subotic in central defence, they have the solidity to boast about as well.
There won’t be too many teams in Europe who would want to come up against the likes of Bayern Munich and Dortmund in the early knock-out stages. Having said that, teams underestimating Schalke should be advised against it as they have proved that they too can be deadly on their day. In Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Jefferson Farfan and the youngster Lewis Holtby, they have admirable game-changers and Huub Stevens definitely has the experience to make them tactically astute.
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 23: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar of FC Schalke 04 warms-up with team-mates during a training session at Emirates Stadium on October 23, 2012 in London, England.
The draw for the knock-out stages could put forward some interesting duels and German football fans will be hoping to see one of their high-flying teams at Wembley on the 25th of May next year. But there’s of course a long way to go and the likes of Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus will definitely not be overawed by their German rivals. For the moment though, all eyes will be focussed on the Round of 16 draw at Nyon on the 20th of Dec.
