News Analysis: Bayern, good enough for sweet dreams?

With 11 points in front, the German Bundesliga does not seem to constitute much more than a training ground for Bayern Munich. The German champions are about to face international challenge in the Champions League.

After drawing 0-0 in the first leg of the Champions League last 16, it is vital for Pep Guardiola's team to win at home against Shakhtar Donetsk this Wednesday evening. But for their sweet dreams in the Champions League to continue, the Germans will need to improve their performance.

Having amassed 66 goals in 24 games and with their rivals out of sight, the Bavarians can win the title in as early as April 11th after their 28th match.

Winning the league title seems to be a forgone conclusion. When it comes to international aims, Bayern are about to enter a different world. Guardiola's big wish of reaching and winning the final in Germany's capital Berlin, is a much tougher nut to crack.

Not only Guardiola but also club football director Matthias Sammer are demanding greater effectiveness in front of the goal and more concentration at the back. To break down defensive teams like Donetsk that operates with fast counter attacks, Bayern's game needs pace and incision.

"Their strikers are as fast as lightning," said Sammer. Bayern striker Thomas Mueller added: "We need more speed and have to be more effective." It means they have to be more precise with their passing game. Dominating the game like they did in the first leg won't be enough this time. "We need to shut them out and score ourselves," said Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer.

To fail would be seen as a catastrophe. It would be a severe setback for Bayern's reputation and will create further discussions about the future of Pep Guardiola. The Spaniard's contract runs out at end of June 2016 and not all are convinced that Guardiola will continue at Bayern.

"His way of working is very intense," said Bayern captain Philipp Lahm who is now backing in team training after a long lay-off.

"As an optimist you can be easy going but as a coach you can't afford to be optimistic all the time. I'm always worried," admitted Guardiola. "I am always worried ahead of a game," said the two times Champions League winner.

Not to win the Champions League at least once within his three year reign at Bayern would inevitably be seen as a personal disaster. Therefore the Donetsk game is incredibly important for him. To fail as early as the last 16 happened in 1981 last time (0-0/1-1 against Liverpool).

Looking at their record in the last 16, there seems to be little danger of Bayern not progressing to the next round. After all they have advanced to the next stage five times after starting off with a goalless draw in the first leg. The last time that Bayern failed to score at home was in April 2014 (0-4 vs. Real Madrid). But having to face the problem so soon requires good nerves but not everybody in Bayern seems to be at ease. Striker Franck Ribery appeared to be edgy in several Bundesliga games recently as he often retaliated after being fouled.

There are various problems to be solved now and in the near future. First of all in midfield where there are several permutations. Who will play with whom? Bastian Schweinsteiger, Alonso and Lahm together? Lahm talked about his doubts by saying: "I don't think the midfield lineup will be Schweinsteiger, Alonso and Lahm. I expect to play."

This Wednesday Guardiola won't be in the tricky situation as Lahm is still sidelined and Alonso is suspended. Most probably Schweinsteiger will play alongside David Alaba. (Thiago and Javier Martinez are still out injured). In defense will be Rafinha, Jerome Boateng, Holger Badstuber and Juan Bernat as well as Arjen Robben, Thomas Mueller, Ribery and Robert Lewandowski up front.

Second is the defensive issues. Brazilian defender Dante could leave the club in summer 2015 as Guardiola is not counting on him fully anymore. Badstuber is regarded as the future man next to Boateng.

In the league game in Hannover, Dante was substituted after only 32 minutes as Guardiola realigned his tactics as his team's game lacked pace in the first half hour. German media saw "an execution" of Dante whose form has declined since the Brazilian national team's disastrous 7-1 defeat against Germany at the 2014 World Cup. Rumors say Dante could join his former club Borussia Moenchengladbach at the end of the season.

Third is the age problem. The group of over 30s (the so-called golden generation) is growing. The time available to reach major goals is getting shorter all the time. Schweinsteiger is 30, Alonso 33, Lahm, Ribery and Robben 31, as is Dante. "We have a well-balanced age mix in our outstanding squad that has to result in a Champions League win in the next couple of years," said Sammer.

Still pained by memories of the 2012 "final at home" when Bayern lost to Chelsea (4-3 after a penalty shoot-out which later was called the "drama at home") in their Allianz Arena stronghold, the desire to redeem themselves in the 2015 Champions League final in Berlin is intense. It all means tension is incredibly high in advance of the final against Donetsk this Wednesday. Endi