New-look Bayern out to prove Spurs drubbing was no fluke

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AFP Berlin
Last Updated : Oct 21 2019 | 9:35 AM IST

Bayern Munich face Olympiakos away in the Champions League on Tuesday with key defender Niklas Suele sidelined as Niko Kovac's side seek to prove their demolition of Tottenham was no fluke.

The summer overhaul of Bayern's squad bore spectacular fruit a fortnight ago in a 7-2 thrashing of Spurs as winger Serge Gnabry scored four second-half goals.

"The 7-2 was a great match, a statement, but nothing more," insisted Bayern head coach Kovac after last season's finalists were routed.

Now Bayern must back up the Spurs trouncing in Athens on the back of below-par performances in the Bundesliga and the loss of Germany centre-back Suele.

Bayern suffered their first defeat this season 10 days ago by crashing 2-1 at home to Hoffenheim, then leaked a 91st-minute equaliser in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Augsburg to stay third in the Bundesliga.

The point at Augsburg carried a high price as torn knee ligaments means Suele should be sidelined for the next six months.

"We didn't pass the character test," admitted Gnabry after the Augsburg draw.

"We didn't put our chances away at the end, if we had converted one, it would have been all over. That's how we blew it.

"Sometimes you have games like against Tottenham where everything runs smoothly -- then you have days like today or against Hoffenheim.

"We simply have to do better with our chances."
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First Published: Oct 21 2019 | 9:35 AM IST

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