The favourites
BAYERN MUNICH
Overdue a Champions League challenge
For all Bayern Munich's noteworthy work in the Champions League last season - not dropping a single point in the group phase (scoring 18 and conceding just twice) and knocking out Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 - what fans and decision-makers at the Allianz Arena demand above all is continental staying power, an ingredient that the Reds have singularly lacked in recent years.
Since winning the Champions League in 2020 (beating PSG 1-0 in the behind-closed-doors COVID final), Bayern have been knocked out at the quarter-final stage in each of the past three seasons and, for a club as prestigious and voraciously ambitious, this is simply not acceptable. Six-time winners of European football's top cup and runners-up on a further five occasions, Bayern set the bar higher than most. Whenever they fail to deliver in Europe, it cuts deep indeed, piling on the pressure to bounce back with a vengeance.
Within the Bayern boardroom, the conviction is that new coach Thomas Tuchel, in his first full season at the club, will prove successful in rekindling Bayern's European fire. Tuchel has the Champions League pedigree (winning the trophy with Chelsea in 2020-21), is a meticulous team-builder and tactician, and is more than equal to the task of recreating a new and improved work ethic.
Who will lead Bayern's back line?
Last season, Bayern conceded far too many goals through individual errors, so the arrival of the uncompromising South Korea centre-back Kim Min-jae, acquired for €50m from Napoli, should go a long way to stiffening their rearguard. "He does 20 unbelievable things per game, gushed former Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti.
Where must Bayern improve?
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Denne historien er fra September 2023-utgaven av World Soccer.
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Going for Gold in Paris- There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
Face to face - Tom Sainfiet- The final goal is to reach the World Cup and write history - The Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer
The well-travelled Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer after taking charge of the Philippines-his 11th international coaching role
Inter cruise to title number 20
Simone Inzaghi's Internazionale shrug off all challengers before sealing the Serie A title in style against their biggest rivals
HAT-TRICK HERO
Ademola Lookman wrote his name into European football's history books with a hat-trick in the Europa League final
GOING UP
The story of Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres' career has been one of upward trajectory - and there's plenty more to come from the Sporting superstar
Palau soldier on alone
The isolated Pacific nation faces a long and lonely battle to improve football on the island
Brazilian clubs eye Copa number six
As the Copa Libertadores group stage concludes, a sixth consecutive Brazilian winner is looking likely
AI Hilal sweep to another Saudi crown
The first edition of the Saudi Pro League's glamorous new era ends with a familiar title winner
Disasters brewing
There is still a long way to go in World Cup qualifying, but dysfunction reigns at Cameroon, Congo and Nigeria after four matchdays in the group stage
Second round of World Cup qualifying underway
Favourites perform largely as expected, yet Cayman Islands dominate the headlines
