Bayern under pressure to maintain title course, keep stars

Bayern Munich’s German midfielder Serge Gnabry (2nd L) celebrates scoring the 4-0 goal with his teammates Bayern Munich’s Polish forward Robert Lewandowski (L) Bayern Munich’s German defender Niklas Suele (2nd R) and Bayern Munich’s French defender Lucas Hernandez (R) during the UEFA Champions League last-16, second-leg football match FC Bayern Munich vs RB Salzburg in Munich, southern Germany on March 8, 2022. (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE / AFP)

Pressure is piling up for Bayern Munich on and off the field amid speculation about stars Robert Lewandowski and Serge Gnabry while their bid for a 10th straight Bundesliga title is under threat after seeing their lead slashed.

Bayern face a tough home tie Saturday against Union Berlin, who are known for grinding out results, while the hosts have defenders Niklas Suele and Benjamin Pavard sidelined respectively by injury and Covid.

“We will have to change a few things in defence,” said Bayern head coach Julian Nagelsmann on Friday.

“We still have a four point lead, but this is an important game with the international break coming up.”

Over the last week, second-placed Dortmund have cut Bayern’s lead from 10 points down to four with eight games left and Germany’s top two clubs to meet on April 22.

Bayern have drawn their last two league games and need to secure the futures of 2020 Champions League winners with Lewandowski, Gnabry, Manuel Neuer and Thomas Mueller out of contract in 2023.

“I want a resolution to this as quickly as possible, they are important players for us,” Nagelsmann admitted.

The longer Bayern wait to extend contracts, the more speculation grows.

“FC Bayern has never allowed itself to be driven by headlines or rumours,” Bayern president Herbert Hainer told magazine Kicker,