News analysis: Bayern vs. Donetsk: Stress test without stress? Not at all

Was it a false alarm in the end for Bayern Munich?

What about all the apocalyptical thoughts in Bayern' s heads about a possible loss in as early as the round of the last 16 in the Champions League. And then there was Pep Guardiola who was talking about "a big problem for me" if his team would not manage to defeat Ukraine' s Shakhtar Donetsk after a dangerous 0-0 draw in the first leg. Meaning, his project of coaching the German champion to Europe' s top title, would have failed after putting in so much effort.

The second leg in the Munich arena was almost over in the fourth minute when Donetsk defender Olexandr Kutcher upended Bayern striker Mario Goetze in the penalty box. Kutcher was sent off, the quickest red card in Champions League history, and Thomas Mueller converted the penalty.

It started a goal rush as Jerome Boateng (34th), Franck Ribery (49th), Mueller again (52nd), Holger Badstuber (63rd), Robert Lewandowski (74th) and Goetze again (87th) all added to the scoreline which read 7-0 at the end. A record equaling win that was watched by 70,000 spectators in the Munich arena after it slightly modified to increase capacity.

But there are many arguments not to see it as a piece of cake for Bayern. It was far from being a stress test without stress, or not? In contrast to the smoothly-running Bundesliga campaign, top of the table 11 points ahead of the rest, it represented a piece of hard work on the international stage, at least it was a test in that regard. And Bayern dealt with it well.

Guardiola showed courage with his starting eleven as it included five strikers, Ribery, Robert Lewandowski, Goetze, Mueller and Robben. It was the main message for his club and team. On top: Captain Philipp Lahm was back in the squad just 113 days after his injury of broken ankle and it was meant as a message too: One for his team - competition for a starting place in the starting line-up will be extremely hard from now on as the team will face the most important weeks of the season.

And Guardiola again came up with a special idea for the important game. Ribery and Robben did not fully play far out along the line, but played more inside midfield in order to open space for the right and left backs Rafinha and Alaba along the line. Guardiola' s idea: The strong dribblers Ribery and Robben should concentrate on one-to-one situations in the game center against a defensive acting team, to create more chances, which worked well.

Lahm this Monday said he expects to play in midfield when fully fit. Competition in midfield will be toughest of all in Bayern' s team as Xabi Alonso, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Lahm, Thiago and Xavier Martinez , both still recovering from injury, will all be in the running for the two or three midfield spots.

When Thiago and Martinez are back, Bayern' s squad will be even better prepared for Europe' s big guns and more like the squad Guardiola built to fulfill his dream of winning the Champions League.

"The players have to be ready in our heads for the situation that it is possible to be on the bench for some games as we have a squad of high quality and, that it is important to stick together as a team to get to the top," Lahm said after returning to team training last Monday.

Robben' s injury, a trapped nerve in his back at the 19th minute, does not seem to be serious. As well as the one of Ribery, ankle problems.

After the first leg, Bayern was accused of wasting far too many goal-scoring chances in international games. This time the Bavarians showed they can score and be fully concentrated in an important game.

Sure, it was the last 16 round and there is much more to come regarding important challenges but it is after all no disadvantage to gain the conviction you can up your game when needed. 98 per cent of Bayern' s passes were on target. 25-3 shots on goal, figures that speak for themselves.

Guardiola found his two central defenders in Boateng and Badstuber, both scored, in control against Donetsk and they had the opportunity to go forward themselves. Sometimes it looked like as if Boateng would act like a striker. Badstuber was in the first eleven in the Champions League after a two-year long break.

"The team were fully concentrated and scored seven goals. We' re happy," said Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. "We' re also extremely happy about Holger Badstuber. Coming back like he has done after three serious injuries has to make him a hero."

Qualifying for the next round, despite the impressive result, was in the end worth more than the four million Euro Bayern gets from FIFA. The Germans and their coach Pep Guardiola can now wait relaxed for the draw for the next round, knowing they are well-prepared when it comes to a real stress test far tougher than the one they faced against Shakhtar Donetsk this Wednesday evening. Endi