Bayern Munich secured a 4-2 win over Viktoria Plzen on matchday four (12 October) of the Champions League to retain their place at the top of Group C and qualify for the round of 16.
The Bundesliga giants and Napoli are the only teams with a hundred per recent win ratio in the elite European competition this season, and a victory in their next game – against Barcelona – will guarantee them the top position in the group ahead of the last-16 draws.
Bayern secured a 5-0 win over Viktoria at the Allianz Arena in the first-leg, and they simply continued from where they stopped in the Czech Republic.
Julian Nagelsmann’s side were 4-0 up at half-time at Doosan Arena Plzen thanks to strikes from Sadio Mane, Thomas Muller and a Leon Goretzka brace, and a shellacking appeared to be on the cards.
Viktoria attempted to fight back when play resumed, with Adam Vlkanova pulling one back for the hosts shortly after the hour mark.
Jan Kliment also bagged another goal for Michal Bílek’s men with 15 minutes left on the clock, but they could not complete a comeback, succumbing to their fourth defeat in as many group games.
Viktoria will need to get maximum points when they face Inter Milan and Barcelona in their last two games to have any chance of playing in the Europa
League last-16 and continue their continental adventure, but that is a tough ask.
While they are struggling on the continent, they are currently top of the Czech First League following nine wins and two draws in their opening 11 games, and they will be hoping to successfully defend their title this term.
Early elimination from Europe could boost their chances of doing that, though, and with Barca likely to finish third in the group, that would be a blessing in disguise as Viktoria will have the chance to fully concentrate on their domestic campaign.
Bayern are also hoping to defend their title and are currently second in the Bundesliga after 10 games, four points behind surprise early leaders Union Berlin.
The Germans are always one of the favourites to win the Champions League every season, and that remains the case this term.
They are one of the teams to beat this term, and given that they have reached at least the quarterfinals in each of the last 10 campaigns, the Bavarians remain a threat to any club in Europe.
Despite losing the goals of Robert Lewandowski at the end of last season, they brought in Mane, and the Senegalese forward has been a capable replacement so far, with seven goals to his name across the Bundesliga and Champions League so far.
Leroy Sane and Jamal Musiala have also been constant sources of goals for Bayern this season, while the likes of Muller, Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman and Joshua Kimmich remain threats in the final third.
The Germans have enough attacking firepower and defensive solidity to challenge across all competitions this term, and all eyes will be on them as they continue to dominate their Champions League group.
