re: 2012/2013 Bayern Munchen Season Long Thread - Treble Edition

Strategy against Barca: With Mandzo banned the first match and Kroos out for both games this could be a very tricky tie. Even if we were at full strength this wouldn't be straight forward at all.

The first question is who starts up top in the first game (at home)?
At first glance I said Mario. He's played in these big games many times before, he is a natural scorer and is big and strong enough to exploit the shite out of whoever Barca decide to trot out there.
At second glance it seems like Pizza could be our best option. His hold up play is a lot better than Mario's and I think his understanding with player's like Robben and Ribery could be very beneficial. Pizza is more similar to Mandzo than Mario is and he is obviously our best option for the style we have been trying to play.

After consideration, I think Gomez has to be the starter. If he can't take advantage of that back line prior to 60 min. then he comes off. Pizza would be motivated to come on and show his stuff. Mario tends to be a pretty lackluster sub.

The next question is how the midfield looks with Kroos out ( ). I think our wingers should be Ribery and Robben. Some may not agree with Robben, but the fact is he could easily destroy Alba. Muller is more of a toss up. The middle is interesting. I could see us playing Shaq in the playmaker role, with Bastian and Javi underneath. I really doubt that happens though. I also think a better solution is to move Bastian up to the playmaker and play Luiz and Javi underneath. That midfield gives us the best chance of controlling the ball AND giving Xavi/Iniesta/Messi a really hard time. Plus Bastian is no joke going forward. The more I think about it, the more I like it.

The back line is a delicate situation. If Jupp gets this wrong, we don't advance. Obviously Lahm and Alaba will be outside. The question is who is in the middle. I have no idea how fit Badstuber is so I'm just gonna assume he is out. That leaves Dante, DvB, and Boateng. I'll take Dante and Boateng. I know Boa can be really boneheaded sometimes, but DvB is entirely to slow to deal with Barca.

That leaves my line up for the first tie as such:

----------------Neuer--------------------
Lahm--------Boateng----Dante-----------Alaba
------------Javi--------Luiz--------------
---Robben--------Jesus---------------Ribery
-----------------Mario--------------------