Two Clubs in Crisis

DW-WORLD.DE: No one in Germany knows these two clubs better than you do.

Paul Breitner: I had the privilege of seeing Real Madrid from the inside. It's a long time ago, but I still follow what's going on with the team and maintain my contacts there. And I know Bayern very well indeed. They're one of the top five clubs in the world.

Really? You wouldn't think so from looking at the current Bundesliga table.

You have to distinguish between the club and the current squad. They're two totally different animals. You can't equate Bayern with the results in any one season. They're still one of the best clubs in the world, and the same is true of Real. Both teams have had turbulent seasons thus far, and the results have been disappointing. But they're still solid institutions.

So why aren't they showing it on the pitch?

Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are at similar junctures in their history. Both are planning for the long term; both are reinventing themselves, shaking up their squads. Both are in search of a new soccer identity because neither of them have been live up to their reputation as perennial favorites in their respective leagues.

That must be a difficult situation for two clubs that are used to being on top.

Precisely because expectations are so high, you have to make changes. What happens today is important for both Bayern and Real, but what happens tomorrow is more important. They don't just want to win their league titles. They also aim at winning the Champions League and their respective national cups. They want it all. That's what makes them so special.

What's the main difference between the two?

Money. Real Madrid's financial resources allow them to do short-term planning. Real can change the face of their squad overnight by buying two or three of the world's top stars and still function in the long term. Bayern are forced to do things differently. Munich can't just quickly put together a squad of "galacticos."

What can we expect of Baern's new coach, Ottmar Hitzfeld?

Hitzfeld has a different philosophy than his predecessor Felix Magath. But it's too early to expect anything of him as Bayern's new coach. He needs time. Don't expect to see a brand-new Bayern Munich in their Champions League match against Real on Feb. 20.

Real Madrid versus Bayern Munich is still a dream match-up for soccer fans.

The fans wait for games like this the whole year. It's the best there is. This year the tie is even more interesting because the result will determine the rest of the season for both clubs. The losing side will only have around 10 games left in its respective national league to win a title, Otherwise they'll end the season empty-handed. That would truly be a year to forget.

But if you were to go out of the Champions League, you'd be better able to concentrate on the national title.

No one wants to lose, especially not Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. The situation for both clubs is really dramatic because both of them only have a realistic chance of a title if they win the Champions League.

How do you beat Real? And how do you beat Bayern?

To beat clubs like these, you have play with great concentration over the full 90 minutes.

Who do you think will win the tie?

I have no idea. For me there's no favorite. Normally I'm not afraid of making predictions, but Real and Bayern are going through such turbulent phases and are miles away from their best form.

Are you just trying to avoid offending friends of yours in Spain and Germany?

Not at all. I'm not embarrassed to say that I really like Real Madrid. Every bit as much as Bayern Munich. I just don't have a favorite right now, either emotionally or as a soccer analyst.