Rummenigge: Bayern have advantage, but must avoid mistakes of 1981
Bayern Munich have earned a slight advantage after their goalless draw at Liverpool in their Champions League Round of 16, first-leg clash, but past experience against the Reds should act as a warning, said club CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
The Bavarian side were never a big threat at Anfield yesterday morning (Singapore time), but were very disciplined at the back despite a string of absences and the result left the teams with all to play for when they meet again in Munich on March 13.
"We cracked open the door for the return leg," said Rummenigge, himself a top Bayern and Germany striker in the 1970s and 80s.
"It was an outstanding game. (Former Germany coach) Sepp Herberger would have been proud: one for all and all for one.
"The team did it really well. The coach set up the team perfectly and they were rewarded with this result. But I want to warn against going into the return leg with too much euphoria.
"It is still a dangerous result."
Together with current club president Uli Hoeness, Rummenigge played in another goalless draw in Liverpool in 1981, only to exit the competition with a 1-1 score in Munich.
The Reds scored late in that game to advance on the away goal's rule.
"We were out with a 1-1. We should not make the mistakes that my team made. We have to deliver a great second game," Rummenigge said.
Bayern are on the rise after a less than perfect first half of the season and have closed in on Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund to within three points, having won nine of their last 10 league games.
They are also still unbeaten in the Champions League.
There was also no sign in Liverpool of their vulnerable backline or individual mistakes that have peppered their season so far.
The German champions will be without the suspended Joshua Kimmich as well as Thomas Mueller for the return leg, but Bayern coach Niko Kovac should have some of his injured players back, including Leon Goretzka and Arjen Robben.
Even then, former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson, who won the European Cup with the club in 1984, believes the current Bayern squad are not as formidable as in recent seasons.
"I would argue that their current team are quite average in comparison to the ones that have made the Allianz Arena such a fortress in the past five years," he told the BBC.
"It does not really frighten me the way it did in the past with Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben in full flow." - REUTERS
LIVERPOOL: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Keita (Milner 76), Salah, Firmino (Origi 76), Mane
BAYERN MUNICH: Neuer, Kimmich, Suele, Hummels, Alaba, Alcantara, Martinez, Rodriguez (Sanches 88), Gnabry (Rafinha 90+1), Lewandowski, Coman (Ribery 81)
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