BAYERN MUNICH-MANCHESTER UNITED PREVIEW.......WOUNDED DIE ROTEN READY TO ROAST A DETERMINED UNITED SIDE

                                             
No matter how hard Pep Guardiola has tried to play down Bayern's first loss in 54 League games, it is hurting to say the least that the German Champions saw their record broken on the eve of a very crucial Champions League game. Sascha Molders' goal was enough for Augsburg to break the Bayern fans' hearts and ensure that they don't go the entire League season unbeaten. Markus Weinzierl and his brave soldiers fought gallantly throughout the match and deservedly won. It was the first goal Bayern had ever conceded at the SGL Arena and it proved damning for them in the end. That is a slap on the face of the defending European Champions and they intend to pour it all out on visiting Manchester United on Wednesday.

The red army on their own domestic matters continued their latest run of impressive form when they routed Newcastle United right in front of the packed crowd at SJP. There was nothing the magpies could do as Juan Mata, Shinji Kagawa, Adnan Januzaj and Chicharito ran rings around them  for much of the game. Anders Lindegaard started his first League game since letting five goals go past him in Fergie's farewell game at the Hawthorns last season and he made sure Papisse Cisse was never going to put one past him. Three magnificent saves and the Senegalse was left frustrated and bemused at the same time. Even the introduction of Hatem Ben Arfa hardly made anything different for Alan Pardew's men. A Juan Mata double with additional goals from Chicha and Januzaj were enough to compound the magpies' woes and condemn them to to their second consecutive 4-0 defeat and second straight home loss without scoring a goal. Unfortunately, Mata is ineligible to face fc Hollywood on Wednesday night but Kagawa will definitely be there.

Despite eight changes made by David Moyes, it was a comfortable outing at Tyneside. The likes of DDG, Vidic, Rio, Welbz and Carrick were kept away from the firing line and Wayne Rooney has been declared 95% fit to feature against Bayern after he bruised his toe in training and was a doubt.

PREDICTED LINEUPS-

BAYERN MUNICH

Neuer, Rafinha, Dante, Boateng, Alaba, Lahm, Kroos, Gotze, Ribery, Robben, Mandzukic

MANCHESTER UNITED

DDG, Jones, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Carrick, Fellaini, Kagawa, Valencia, Welbeck, Rooney

Bayern will be without Thiago Alcantara (injured), Bastian Schweinsteiger and Javi Martinez (both suspended) for Wednesday night's match. Wayne Rooney made sure the best DLP in the World will play no part in the second leg and that has given United the midfield edge or so it seems.  That means Mario Gotze will be brought into the starting eleven to support Captain Lahm and Toni Kroos. The ROBBERY gang cannot wait to dispossess United of all what they have got and Mario Mandzukic can fight for next season's starting berth in attack if he scores the goal that will take his team into the semi final. Although, it will take much more than that to keep out the Polish poacher (Lewandowski). Pep will hope that Ribery and Robben have more freedom that what was granted at the Theatre. They know all about the Allianz Arena-all the nooks and crannies.

It all boils down to this one game for Manchester United. Sadly, the red army have had a woeful season and it is unusual that only one game will decide a season for a team used to winning trophies every season. United lie SEVENTEEN POINTS behind log Leaders, Liverpool which means the League title has been relinquished. Only a deep run in the Champions League will allay the fans' fears and give hope for next season. United had a lovely weekend in contrast to Bayern's. A 4-0 win at St James' was achieved without at least five first team regulars while the Buli Champions fell at the SGL to lowly Augsburg. United can do better than Augsburg and one of them can be Sascha Molders. Molders is now a cult hero at Augsburg. The man wrote his name in gold on Saturday. Shinji Kagawa must show that he is a big game player tonight. Last week's draw was the very first time in 5 games he hadn't been on the winning side against Bayern. The Bavarians know all about him. At Dortmund, he won four games on the trot in games against the Buli Champions and provided 1 goal and 2 assists in those battles. Another of such display will help the United cause which is by all means a herculean one. Wayne Rooney has been passed fit to play and that is refreshing. Danny Welbeck will return to the starting eleven and TonyV will take his place on the right side of midfield. The 'high hair' Fellaini must improve considerably on the insipid performance of eight days ago and Michael Carrick has to take advantage of the depleted Bayern midfield and explore the weaknesses if any. DDG returns between the sticks and the Vidic-Rio combo which rolled back the years in a masterclass showing at Old Trafford must once again stiffen the threat of the Bayern front line. Patrice Evra returns to the left back position. The Frenchman has a lot of experience at this level, haven reached four finals but Alex Buttner proved more than an able replacement in the home leg. That may not be enough to retain that position.

Pep shrugged off the defeat on Saturday and has described the game with United as a 'LIFE AND DEATH match'. It remains to be seen how he will approach the encounter but one thing is sure, they are huge favourites to qualify. Manchester United live in hope that something astoundingly preternatural will happen at the Allianz. It will be a colossal result if Moyes can pull it off. One that will effectively get fickle and plastic fans off his back and buy him more time.

Ohireime P Eboreime
@ohiskaka1990