Champions League round of 16 power rankings
By James Dudko
10. Bayern Munich
Bayern couldn’t beat Atletico to top spot in Group D. But the Bundesliga giants would have been grateful to get Arsenal in the last 16.
Bayern have beaten the Gunners twice at this stage since 2012. The 2013 winners also thrashed Arsenal 5-1 in Munich during last season’s group stage. Bayern will be confident on familiar soil at the Allianz Arena in the first leg.
If there are reasons to doubt Bayern they are the uncertainty at board level. A recent shakeup put final say on big-money transfers with president Uli Hoeness and CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, according to the Daily Mirror‘s Alex Richards.
The move undermined would-be sporting director Philipp Lahm. He then surprised many with his decision to retire from playing at the end of the season, despite being just 33. Rummenigge and Hoeness expressed some disappointment with the decision, per Goal’s Stefan Coerts.
The Lahm situation could distract manager Carlo Ancelotti’s squad at the worst time. Ancelotti will also rue an injury to winger Franck Ribery.