Bayern Munich are 12 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga with five games remaining.
They will win the title easily, but that creates a problem for coach Pep Guardiola.
If the title is too simple – which given the superiority of Bayern's resources over the rest of the Bundesliga, it really ought to be – then there is little honour in it and the only thing worth fighting for is the Uefa Champions League.
That is why Tuesday’s quarter-final second leg against FC Porto is so important and it is why the 3-1 defeat in the away leg has had such repercussions.
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The pressure is increased by the circumstances in which Guardiola took the job, replacing Jupp Heynckes, who had just won the treble of Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal (German Cup) and Champions League.
It left no lands for Guardiola to conquer; all he could do was conquer them better.
Bayern have, at times, over the past two seasons, produced football of stunning quality, suggesting Guardiola is a visionary and his Bayern are in the avant garde of tactical thought.
But in the semi-final against Real Madrid last season and in the first leg against Porto last week, they were ripped apart by pace and lacked sharpness.
They looked a team grown complacent on their easy victories, unused to fighting against opponents prepared to fight against them.
Since the winter break the team has shown signs of vulnerability, even domestically in the defeats to Wolfsburg and Borussia Monchengladbach.
When Bayern devastate so many sides – they have scored four or more in 10 league games this season – it is understandable that some Bundesliga sides opt for damage limitation.
The best sides in Europe are not so cowed by their reputation and when Bayern are attacked, the evidence is that centre-backs who have forgotten how to defend are driven to basic errors.
It is true that Bayern had injuries before that first leg: no Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, Bastian Schweinsteiger, David Alaba, Medhi Benatia or Javi Martinez.
The loss of Robben was a particular issue in that it denied them pace and attacking width, but no super club can expect much sympathy.
According to Forbes, Bayern are the fourth richest club in the world with an annual income 60 per cent greater than that of Borussia Dortmund, the second richest in Germany.
Injuries, though, have clearly become an issue for Guardiola, not helped by the fact his relationship with Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt, the highly respected and long-serving Bayern doctor, has never been easy.
It still came as a surprise, though – even to the club – when Muller-Wohlfahrt and three of his staff resigned the day after the Porto defeat, saying Guardiola blamed them for the injuries.
When the centre-back Benatia went down with a muscular injury in the German Cup match against Bayer Leverkusen last week, Guardiola sarcastically applauded in the face of one of Muller-Wohlfahrt’s assistants.
He has become increasingly tetchy – an indication of the pressure he is under – and failing to overturn the 3-1 first-leg deficit would mean this season, whatever happens in the league and cup, will be perceived as a failure.
It may be absurd that so much should ride on one tie, but that is the reality of super-club economics. Domestic competition becomes all but worthless in nations, such as Germany, where there is only one super club.
Bayern may come back – they have the firepower – and Guardiola may devise a plan that overwhelms Porto. But Jackson Martinez and Ricardo Quaresma have the pace to trouble Bayern on the break and the capacity to pinch an away goal that would leave Bayern needing to score three just to force extra time.
At the least, this has been a chastening lesson into the problems of super-club economics.
sports@thenational.ae
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BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
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Director: Sam Raimi
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A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
Mina Cup winners
Under 12 – Minerva Academy
Under 14 – Unam Pumas
Under 16 – Fursan Hispania
Under 18 – Madenat
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m, Winner: ES Rubban, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ibrahim Aseel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Al Mobher, Sczcepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m, Winner: Jabalini, Tadhg O’Shea, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m, Winner: AF Abahe, Tadgh O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: AF Makerah, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Law Of Peace, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
Teaching your child to save
Pre-school (three - five years)
You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.
Early childhood (six - eight years)
Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.
Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)
Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.
Young teens (12 - 14 years)
Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.
Teenage (15 - 18 years)
Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.
Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)
Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.
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Company profile
Name: Tratok Portal
Founded: 2017
Based: UAE
Sector: Travel & tourism
Size: 36 employees
Funding: Privately funded
