After an uninspiring week of Champions League that featured beatdown after beatdown after pathetic beatdown, it's time to return our attention to domestic play this week and there is no better place to start than with the best team in all of football, FC Bayern Munich.
The Bavarians used a modest 35-0 advantage in shots to destroy Czech foes Viktoria Plzen. Star Arjen Robben said afterward: “We played well, but Plzen didn’t make it hard for us. We’ll soon face more difficult opponents.”
Well that time is Saturday at the Allianz Arena against another team holding a Champions League place in fourth-place Hertha BSC - the team that hails from the capital of Berlin and that is also the official German club of United States-based sports information powerhouse STATS, where several employees proudly display Hertha memorabilia.
The Berliners have been praised by none other than Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who predicts a more competitive affair than Wednesday. Hertha manager Jos Luhukay, known best among American fans for previous coaching U.S. superstar Michael Bradley, has instituted an airtight defense that has shipped the third-fewest goals in the country and features ex-Bayern 'keeper Thomas Kraft.
On attack, Hertha are dangerous thanks to the 'Tunisian terrors' - Sami Allagui and Anis Ben-Hatira - while Bayern feature European player of the year Franck Ribery and other big-name players too numerous to list.
The Bayern camp have been surprisingly respectful about their opponents this week, with Pep Guardiola saying he is 'surprised' by Hertha's strong start.
It figures to be an interesting matchup and one that should live up to its billing as more competitive than Wednesday.
Prediction: Bayern Munich 3, Hertha BSC 0
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