BFW Roundtable: Can anyone beat Bayern Munich by the international break?

While Bayern Munich’s start to the season has been nothing short of stellar, the law of averages suggests that Niko Kovac’s side will eventually lose a game. Well, there’s an international break coming up in a few weeks, and the fixture list is getting crowded. So we here at BFW decided to ask ourselves this:

“Will Niko Kovac’s Bayern lose before the next international break?”

First, let’s take a glance at the upcoming schedule:

• Tuesday, Sept. 25 — home vs FC Augsburg
• Friday, Sept. 29 — away vs Hertha BSC
• Tuesday, Oct. 2 — home vs Ajax Amsterdam
• Saturday, Oct. 6 — home vs Borussia Mönchengladbach

Do any of these teams stand a chance of handing Bayern Munich its first defeat? Here are our answers with the reasoning attached:

Tom Adams: Nein

First off, I hate these international breaks but applaud UEFA for at least trying to make them “non-friendlies,” I guess for now we have to live with them. Regardless, as long as we don’t suffer any more serious injuries to our squad, I think we will enter the next international beak on top of the table without losing any of our matches between now and then. Even when our resources become limited, Niko Kovac has shown that he always has a way to make it work.

Berlin and Möchengladbach will be our toughest tests in the league on either side of our Champions League encounter with Ajax, but I still think we have what it takes to take maximum points. Kovac has got everyone in the squad believing in themselves; Lewandowski has been on point in front of goal, Renato Sanches has a renewed sense of purpose, Thiago has been such a metronome for us in midfield, and the interchangeability in the back between Boateng/Sule/and Hummels has worked wonders; it’s no surprise that we’ve only conceded 2 goals so far this season.

I just can’t see us sputtering at all before the international break, especially with the way we’ve been absolutely dominating our matches.

John Dillon: Yes, to Hertha Berlin

Hertha Berlin has both form and circumstance on its side. If I had to guess which of these teams might have its “any given day” against this impressively coached Bayern Munich team, it would be the Berliners.

While Bayer Leverkusen celebrated their first season victory from 15th place, and Schalke 04 are dead last with 0 points, Hertha just passed Borussia Dortmund to claim second with a 4:2 beatdown of Mönchengladbach. The other two wins were over Nürnberg (currently 8th) and Schalke; Hertha also tied Wolfsburg (5th place). Hertha Berlin looks legitimate: goalkeeper Rune Jarstein is tied with Neuer with two clean sheets, and Vedad Ibisevic and Ondrej Duda are scoring.

The schedule gives Hertha a significant advantage, as well: Bayern must play away in Berlin on Friday night just three days after a Tuesday match against Augsburg and just four days before they host Ajax in the Champions League. Kovac simply must rotate heavily for this game. His first choices will have to be fresh for Ajax. I’d expect Renato Sanches and Sandro Wagner to get their chance. Bayern might, of course, win anyway, but a fresh Hertha has the best chance.

Ben Erwin: Nein

No, Bayern will not lose before the next international break for multiple reasons. The schedule does not include a team strong enough to compete talent-wise and Kovac has kept Bayern competing at a high level regardless of the competition. Their defensive solidity is enough to guarantee they won’t lose and the quality going forward is enough to ensure they will win soundly. This team may not lose until February.

But let’s hope they don’t lose at all.

Ineednoname: Yes, to Borussia Mönchengladbach

While it looks like nothing can topple Bayern Munich at this moment, that’s how it always looks before we play Mönchengladbach. The Foals brought an end to Jupp Heynckes’ win start last season, and they are the ones who stand the best chance of doing it again.

Something goes wrong with this team when they play Mönchengladbach. Call it a jinx, or a curse, but it’s inexplicable. If you check out any Manuel Neuer gaffe collection on YouTube, almost all the clips will be from games against Mönchengladbach. They are a team that just really like to annoy us. The fixture becomes even more tricky when you consider that it’s our last game after a grueling 20 or so days of non-stop English weeks. Even if Kovac does all the rotation he can, fatigue is guaranteed to build up, particularly in the key fullback positions due to Rafinha’s injury.

I my opinion, Kovac’s 100% winning record will come to an end long before then, with a draw against Hertha Berlin. But the first loss of the season is most likely to be handed down by the Foals.

What do you think? Is Bayern likely to lose any time soon? Comment below!