Something is amiss at Allianz Arena this season. Lewandowski’s transfer has left a gaping hole in the team that no one has been able to fill. And the consequences are there for all to see, the results speak for themselves.
Losing your star striker can weaken any team. Just ask CD Leganes, whose striker Martin Braithwaite was stolen by FC Barcelona in the 2019-2020 season. The club was subsequently relegated and has since been plying its trade in the Segunda Division, Spain’s second division of football.
This summer window, Barcelona were again the culprit, taking away one of the most prized jewels of Bayern’s crown, Robert Lewandowski.
The Polish international helped the Germans win 8 Bundesliga and 1 Champions league title during this time at the club.
So when the sharpshooter underlined his intentions to leave the club in May 2022, there was understandable worry and disappointment in Munich all around.
His €45 million transfer to Spain has not affected his form, scoring 11 goals in 8 games for Barca.
Things, however, have not remained so rosy for his former club.
Poor run
Yesterday’s match against local bavarian rivals Augsburg saw the German giants succumb to their first loss of the season, thanks to Mergim Berisha’s goal.
This has left the Bavarians 4th in the table, ending their undefeated streak of 6 games (3 wins and 3 losses).
However, this so-called undefeated streak was less praiseworthy than it sounds.
Bayern have gone 4 consecutive Bundesliga games without a win for the first time since 2001. #FCAFCB
The team lacks an out-and-out forward with Gnabry, Sane, Mane and others filling the position.
And they were not helped by an inspired goalkeeper in Rafał Gikiewicz.
The Polish keeper faced 6 shots on target and kept all of them out, including a late header from Munich #1 Neuer.
6 saves vs Bayern Munich, Rafał Gikiewicz magnificent today to help secure a win for Augsburg – his save to deny Manuel Neuer at the end 😳pic.twitter.com/8ZR7KkjKjx
The player is struggling at the club and patience is running thin when it comes to the Sengalese.
Never in my life as a support of this club have I seen an attacking player as bad on the ball as Sadio Mane. He can not dribble, he can not link up, he can not stay onside to save his life. An absurdity of a football player.
Some also think that the manager is not able to utilise the talent at his disposal in the best manner possible.
Will Bayern rue passing the chance to sign Ronaldo? Would he have made a big difference? I really think so. I also feel sorry for Mane, I personally think Nagelsmann isn't using him well. I believe he's best utilized at the flanks.
And as if all this was not enough, arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund sit atop Bundesliga with five wins and two losses.
After their 1-0 win against Schalke over the weekend, goalscorer Moukoko was revelling in Bayern’s loss, which allowed them to leapfrog the defending champions for pole position.
Reporter to Moukoko: "Bayern lost against Augsburg."
However the club decides to react, be it the manager’s sacking, the starting XI changing or bringing players in, it needs to decide soon because if they do not decide soon, this year’s title could slip away from them very fast.
