Blue-chip Bayern formidable opposition for Arsenal

The “FC Hollywood” nickname was not intended in a good way, even if it came to chime with the glitz and glamour of Bayern Munich, Germany’s number one sporting institution. Spawned during Giovanni Trapattoni’s chaotic first spell as manager in 1994-95, it was a reaction to the ego and the infighting, to the club’s ability to drive soap-opera story lines, which were not always entirely related to the football.

When Trapattoni infamously lost his cool at a press conference in 1998, towards the end of his second spell in charge, two of his targets from an under-performing squad were Mario Basler and Thomas Strunz.

The club was so concerned about the off-field antics of some of the players, particularly Basler, they hired a private detective to monitor them, while Strunz would see his wife leave him for his Bayern team-mate, Steffen Effenberg.

There has long been an element of the devil about Bayern. Uli Hoeness, who is now the president, has admitted that during the 1980s he would aim pre-match jibes at the opposition in order to drum up interest and help to fill the stadium; Bayern no longer have that problem.

Capacity to polarise

The club swaggers on and it is a swagger that supporters in Germany either love or hate. A little like Manchester United, there is no middle ground; theirs is the capacity to polarise.

Yet the FC Hollywood schtick is in the background these days and the club is enjoying a cyclical surge of praise.

With their sound governance and an adherence to the principles of financial fair play, Bayern are being seen as a blue-chip German brand, rather than a relentless generator of outlandish entertainment.

They ought to have had more titles at Europe’s most rarefied level. The romance that clings to United’s last-gasp 1999 Champions League final victory over the Germans obscures the reality that it was a brutally unlucky result for Bayern, while the midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger tells the story of how Chelsea were apologetic en route to beating them in the final last time out.

Chelsea had been second best in the final and they trailed 1-0 when they won their only corner in the 88th minute.

“Now, goal,” the defender, David Luiz, told Schweinsteiger, as he jogged upfield. After Didier Drogba had duly headed the equaliser, Schweinsteiger recalls how Luiz ran back past him and, sheepishly, shrugged and said sorry.

Bayern’s defeat – their fifth in European Cup finals and the second in three seasons – is now one of their driving forces.

When Arsenal were drawn to face Bayern, Arsene Wenger talked of the Bundesliga’s impressive rise. He did not need to talk up Bayern. Philipp Lahm, Schweinsteiger and Franck Ribery will lead the first-leg offensive at the Emirates Stadium. A superpower has come to town.

– Guardian Service

Porto v Malaga: Rodriguez back for Porto

In-form Malaga must brace themselves for a barrage of attacking football from Portos Colombian Jackson Martinez and his returning compatriot James Rodriguez when they meet at the Dragao Stadium for their last 16 first leg tonight.

Twice European champions and Portuguese premier league leaders Porto are firing on all cylinders thanks mainly to the exploits of Martinez.

The striker, nicknamed “Cha Cha Cha” for his dance-like moves on the pitch, has feasted on passes from Porto’s supporting talent and leads the Portuguese league scoring charts with 20 goals.

“We will be up to the demands of a game of this level against Malaga. Porto are a team used to winning and react to any adversity,” coach Vitor Pereira said. Porto are boosted by the return of influential forward Rodriguez after missing seven matches with a thigh injury.