April threatens to be a real endurance test for FC Bayern. The round of 16 in the Champions League has not yet been played, but planning is already in full swing in the background due to the recently drawn semi-finals in the DFB Cup, which will put additional strain on Munich’s already tight schedule
Should the record champions make it through to the quarter-finals of the premier class, the first legs await on 7 or 8 April, followed by the second legs a week later on 14 or 15 April. Until then, the calendar still seems manageable, but things will get complicated afterwards
Bundesliga duel as the crux of the matter
FC Bayern will host VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga on the weekend of 17 to 19 April, with the DFB Cup semi-final at Bayer Leverkusen just a few days later, on 21 or 22 April. The proximity of these matches causes considerable planning problems
Depending on whether Bayern have to play in the cup on Tuesday or Wednesday, the recovery time changes massively. A Tuesday match would further shorten the preparation time for the Bundesliga clash. Holding both semi-finals on Wednesday or even moving them to Thursday is also being discussed internally. However, the DFB and the TV broadcasters, who insist on attractive kick-off times for the semi-finals as premium products, are also having their say
Hardly any scope for relief
For Bayern, this means little room for manoeuvre and a heavy workload. Although English weeks are part of everyday life at Säbener Straße, the current constellation is particularly tricky. Between the Champions League, Bundesliga top match and cup tie against Leverkusen, there is hardly any time for rotation and regeneration
Theoretical relief could come from UEFA if a possible quarter-final match were to be rescheduled, but Wednesdays are traditionally reserved for the Champions League – exceptions are rare
One thing is certain: April will be a stress test for FC Bayern. In sporting terms, it’s about winning titles in several competitions, and in organizational terms, it’s about finding a clean scheduling solution. For coach Vincent Kompany and his team, it will be important to manage the load wisely – because at this stage of the season, nuances often determine success or failure.
