Team Focus: What Robert Lewandowski Can Bring To Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich were irresistible last season, of that there is no doubt. The Bavarian giants dropped points on 5 occasions over the duration of their league campaign, losing just the once. On their way to securing an unprecedented treble - the Bundesliga, the Champions League and the DFB-Pokal, becoming to first German team in history to do so - the club earned themselves countless admirers through their scintillating displays and deservedly so.

However, prior to the culmination of their momentous campaign, Bayern confirmed that former Barcelona head coach Pep Guardiola would succeed Jupp Heynckes as manager at the end of the campaign, leaving many to speak of their excitement at how the best team in Europe would become better. Seeing the likes of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribéry sign new deals, not to mention the return to fitness of midfielder Toni Kroos and the acquisitions of Mario Götze and Thiago Alcántara, and many were of the opinion that Bayern boasted the strongest team in Europe.

There was one player that they failed to land over the summer, however, with Borussia Dortmund refusing to sell striker Robert Lewandowski to their league rivals before the close of the transfer window. Having already lost Götze to Bayern, Die Schwarzgelben were understandably keen to hold onto such a key player, with only Bayer Leverkusen striker Stefan Kießling (25) netting more goals in the Bundesliga than Lewandowski (24) last term.

Yet, the player last week confirmed that he would be moving to the Allianz Arena upon the culmination of his contract in July 2014. With it, regardless of Mario Mandzukic's presence as the first choice striker at the club, Bayern will become a much more clinical team as a result.

The question is whether Lewandowski is an essential purchase to Bayern. While he’ll be arriving on a free, the Bundesliga champions already boast an impressive attack line which includes Ribéry, Robben, Kroos, Götze, Mandzukic and Thomas Müller.

With 6 goals to his name from 7 appearances this season, no player has scored more in the Bundesligia. Having fired 35 shots on goal already this season and hit the target with 20, he boasts an impressive shot accuracy of 57.1%.

Such has been the frequency with which he has gone for goal that Dortmund’s average of 23.3 shots per game is the most in Europe’s top 5 leagues this season. Unsurprisingly, this has seen the Bundesliga side average 9.3 shots on target per game, also the most in Europe’s top 5 leagues.

With his current attacking exploits in the Bundesliga, utilising Lewandowski's ability in and around the 18 yard box will be crucial in seeing them win back their Bundesliga crown and it's this aspect of his game that eventually saw Bayern firm up their interest in the striker. When taking into consideration that the defending champions are averaging fewer shots per game (18.3) and fewer shots on target (7.1) than their rivals, one can understand why they were so keen to land the striker, especially with Dortmund currently topping the Bundesliga on goal difference.

Interestingly, that figure is a marginal improvement on their 17.2 per game last term, with 7.5 of those being on target. While many believe that Bayern refrain from shooting as often under Guardiola, such is the need to find that ‘Eureka’ moment when attacking the opposition, evidently his team are assaulting the goal more often under the stewardship of the Spaniard, but seemingly lack that consistent threat that Lewandowski would bring to the Allianz Arena.

With Dortmund having more attempts on goal per game this term, seeing them score more goals (21) compared to Bayern (14) comes as little shock. Lewandowski has been crucial to that figure being so high, with his prolificacy highlighted in that all 6 of his goals have been clear cut goalscoring opportunities, a facet of Bayern’s game that can be improved upon.

As a collective, Bayern have missed 12 clear-cut chances in the Bundesliga this term, and only Hoffenheim (16) have missed more. Their toothlessness in front of goal this term is further accentuated in that this season Bayern's conversion rate stands at 10.9%, a drop from 16.1% last season and their lowest in any of the last 5 campaigns. While the German outfit boasts an abundance of attacking talent, a player of Lewandowski’s ruthlessness in front of goal would significantly benefit the team.

Moreover, it isn’t just his goal getting ability that stands him in high stead. The 25-year-old has executed 3 accurate through balls in the Bundesliga this term, a tally that no player can top. In a team that boasts a WhoScored.com strength of ‘creating chances using through balls’, his ability to release a teammate in behind the defence would certainly be an asset to Guardiola.

Evidently, recruiting a player of Lewandowski's ability will go a long way to ensuring they remain the best in Europe. The Poland international has won his fair share of admirers in recent months with a series of fine performances for Dortmund and it’s little surprise as to why Bayern have worked hard to secure his signature, even if the deal is going through 12 months later than the Bundesliga champions originally hoped.

The preference of Lewandowski to remain in a more central position will likely give Bayern greater focus in attack, especially when taking into consideration that the team are very strong at ‘attacking down the wings’. This will allow the German giants an improved target to aim for when pushing down the flanks and put crosses into the box.

With their poor conversion rate this term, something needs to be improved in that regard. Lewandowski will bring a clinical nature to the team and his ability in front of goal is one that Bayern, with a plethora of creative talent in offensive roles, will be able to exploit to devastating effect.

Do you think Robert Lewandowski will improve the Bayern Munich attack? Let us know in the comments below