Not only an important goal for Bayern

Mark van Bommel’s excellent late strike against Real Madrid in Tuesday evening’s Champions League game could prove to be a godsend for more than turning Bayern Munich’s woeful season around. As well as providing a much-needed fillip that could manifest some much needed Bundesliga form, the goal might kick-start van Bommel’s hit-and-miss Bayern career.

In the wake of his much talked about summer move from 2006 Champions League winners Barcelona (hence the “Up yours!” celebration to Real fans), van Bommel was labelled as everything from Bayern’s new leader, playmaker and midfield kingpin to Bayern strongman and now Hitzfeld’s very own on-field enforcer. None of the labels have been entirely tenuous; neither have the labels been particularly accurate either. Somehow van Bommel has the amazing ability to be both a success and failure at the same time.

For those wanting a direct replacement for the much-criticised Ballack (yes, criticism of not doing enough is not new) he hasn’t been creative enough; for those who want a dynamic Steven Gerrad-like player, he just isn’t … well, dynamic enough.

Proof of whether van Bommel can hit the expected heights will probably come pretty soon. Tomorrow Bayern play an absolutely must-win game against a Wolfsburg team that past Bayern teams wouldn’t have batted an eyelid at – before batting them away with a comprehensive thrashing. And the old jibe that “We hate Bayern because they’re so arrogant,” is difficult to uphold when the team plays like an apologetic bunch of ballet dancers. This Bayern team isn’t packed with the stars of yesteryear – it’s hardly even packed with well-known players inside Bavaria. “Hollywood FC”, Bayern’s past moniker, this definitely is not.

A convincing win against Wolfsburg may signal a pick-up in league form and herald a concerted push at winning a Champions League place. Pass that and then comes the big test: despised rivals Real Madrid in the Champions League second leg on 7 March. Van Bommel’s late goal could prove to be one of those intriguing turning points. It could, however, merely prove to be a short high in a miserable season for Bayern Munich. And whether the goal is remembered as the determining factor in Bayern progressing, could determine van Bommel’s next label for Bayern.