Reconnaissance report: Bayern Munich lose ahead of United tie

Marica celebrates winner: Photograph: Sandra Behne/Bongarts/Getty Images

With the game against Bayern Munich on Tuesday I thought I’d have a look at the Bavarian giants as they faced Stuttgart today and I was pleasantly surprised by what I saw.

Going into the game, Munich sat atop of the Bundesliga and it appeared Louis Van Gaal had one eye on us as he rested key players Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery. But he paid the price as his team crashed to a 2-1 defeat.

Ivica Olic opened the scoring for Munich in the 32nd minute but Christian Trasch brought Stuttgart level 9 minutes later with a deflected shot. Van Gaal introduced Robben and Ribery at half time but neither could stop Stuttgart from taking the lead in the 51st minute as an unmarked Ciprian Marica was allowed to head home and the score remained the same until the final whistle.

Minus their two star wingers, at times Munich looked uninspired so the fact that Arjen Robben picked up an injury and is now a doubt bodes well for us.

In space and with no one around him Robben went to play a pass but pulled up. Munich had made all 3 subs at the time so Robben was forced to carry on but noticeably with a limp. The extent of the injury to his left leg is not quite known yet but what we do know is that it could possibly rule the Dutch winger out of the first leg of the Champions League quarter final. Add to this the fact Ribery is just coming back from an ankle injury and our prospect are looking very much improved.