Bayern Munich - The faces of success

Coach Pep Guardiola has convinced Bayern Munich of his concept: Lots of possession and a neat short passing game. Most of Bayern's German opponents will only focus on running and making the goal tighter rather than winning duels.

Whether he’s at left-back, right-back or central midfield, where he been used since the start of the season, Philipp Lahm is world class in each of these positions. He is a bit too small for central defence or in goal, though. In the Bundesliga, he broke his scoring duck with a goal against Nürnberg in February and has continued to shine since.

Manuel Neuer is used to having not much to do in the Allianz Arena during a normal league game. There is very little going on in his penalty box this season and usually others have more of the ball. Nevertheless, Neuer is wide awake and always on the spot when he needs to be.

Javi Martinez was no household name for Bayern fans before he moved to Munich from the Spanish Primera Liga. Today, though, everyone agrees he was worth the investment of 40 million euros($55.15 million). Whether in midfield or defense, Martinez is relaxed and experienced and has a calming influence on the team.

"This one or noone," said Guardiola at the beginning of the season about Thiago Alcantara whom he knew from his time at Barcelona. Bayern were happy to pay the Spaniards 25 million euros ($34.7 million) and today Guardiola is fortunate to have another jewel in his ranks. Thiago directs the game with his great vision and saves his goals for spectacular wins.

Bastian Schweinsteiger has not contested too many games this season. For a long time, the national team player was injured. Now he is back on his way to be at his old condition and again picks up the playing style on the pitch. His experience of guiding his team-mates through the rest of the tournament – especially in the Champions League – makes him worth his weight in gold.

As a penalty-box striker, Mario Mandzukic holds a role in the team that Pep Guardiola does not really need in his system. Nevertheless, he is Bayern’s most dangerous attacker in the Bundesliga, Champions League and German Cup. Despite that, when Robert Lewandowski arrives from Dortmund in the summer, Mandzukic will probably leave.

A Dutch and a French national player create danger on the flanks: Arjen Robben (right) and Franck Ribery (left). Absolute world class – both are so good at it that noone can stop them for 90 minutes.

And if nothing moves, bring in Thomas Müller. The fast attacker is responsible for the good atmosphere in the team and can carry his team-mates like no other. In addition, the high-scoring man with thin legs has an uncanny ability of knowing where he has to run to create the biggest problems for the opponents.

Bayern has often bought up the competitions's best players . And they did it again when they bought Dortmund's "crown jewel" Mario Götze for 37 million euros ($51 million). He even struck in his first match against his former employers.

Matthias Sammer won't stand for complacency at Bayern Munich. The manager even found a few things to complain about in a 9-0 win over Hamburg! His boundless ambition and fierce will-to-win makes him a perfect fit for Bayern.

Uli Hoeness, the maker of Bayern, is in the background now. The convicted tax evader has undisputable business acumen - and a knack for recruiting the right people, he was a father figure to the players and is credited with shaping the club to be what it is now: One of the best and most successfull in the world.