Bundesliga has made Bayern soft, claims Matthaus
Bayern Munich's Bundesliga domination has made it a soft touch in the UEFA Champions League, according to club legend Lothar Matthaus.
Bayern Munich icon Lothar Matthaus believes that the club's failure in Europe in recent years is partly down to the Bundesliga being "too easy".
The Bavarian giant heads into the away leg of its UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie with Real Madrid aiming to overcome a 2-1 deficit.
Carlo Ancelotti's side is well on course for a fifth successive Bundesliga crown this season and Matthaus claims that domestic domination fails to prepare it to challenge Europe's elite.
"Bayern's daily business in the Bundesliga is too easy," the former Germany captain said.
"They have no serious competitors. In Spain and other countries this looks quite different. Players will be under pressure all year round because every weak game is immediately punished.
"In the case of Bayern it is now the fifth year in a row they have claimed the title with lots of days to go.
"So it is more difficult to switch it on. This was also observed in the past years under Pep Guardiola.
"Even under him Bayern could not win [the Champions League]. The motivation was missing.
"On Saturday they can compete in Leverkusen with 70 or 80 per cent effort and probably win anyway, and if they do not, they remain unchallenged at the top."
Indeed Bayern didn't perform too well against Leverkusen and was frustrated into a goalless draw, despite its opponent being reduced to 10 men for a good period of the second half.
