The name Patrik Andersson will forever be associated with one particular goal in the Bundesliga. A goal that earned Bayern the title in the final seconds of the season and permanently traumatised a club, a city and the entire Ruhr region of Germany. It was the Swede’s indirect free-kick from 10 yards out in the fourth minute of Bayern’s game away at Hamburg on the final day of 2000/01 that took the Meisterschale away from already celebrating Schalke fans and into the hands of suddenly delighted Bayern supporters.
In fact, it was Andersson’s only goal in over two years at Bayern. The Swedish defender made 69 appearances for the club, including four days after that domestic miracle when he played at the San Siro in Milan. On that day he had a chance from 12 yards out, this time with no wall in the way, but Andersson missed. Santiago Cañizares saved his penalty in the shootout, but it didn’t matter in the end as Bayern still went on to lift the Champions League. “I played my best football in 2001, which was crowned by winning the Champions League and being named in UEFA’s Team of the Year,” the now 53-year-old recalls.
A historic moment as Patrik Andersson, Stefan Effenberg and the team celebrate Bayern’s dramatic title victory in Hamburg in 2001. | Imago
From Champions League glory to Barcelona
It was that same summer that the Sweden international signed a four-year deal at Barcelona. He was also named his country’s Footballer of the Year for the second time. But it was also the start of a tough time with many injuries. Andersson only played 31 times for the Catalans before returning to his homeland with Malmo. He still lives in Sweden now. Skickat från min iPhone is what it says in Swedish at the bottom of his emails – sent from my iPhone – as he expresses his excitement about Wednesday evening, when Barcelona host Bayern at the Olympic Stadion. “It’s two giants and two of my ex-clubs. Both have made their mark in the history of the Champions League. Bayern have six titles; Barcelona five. You don’t get better than that! I’m really looking forward to a great evening of football,” Andersson wrote.
Andersson (centre, top) starting for Barcelona in March 2003 alongside legends like Xavi, Patrick Kluivert and Gaizka Mendieta. | Imago
Andersson talks exes
The former defender still has close ties to his two old clubs. “They’ve remained friendships for life,” said Andersson, who closely follows how his ex-sides are getting on. “A condition of going far in the Champions League is to allow your opponents few chances and concede few goals,” he added. That appears a big challenge now in particular for Barcelona given they have to replace injured Germany No.1 Marc-André ter Stegen. Consistency in the back like is also key for success, the former defender stated. “It’ll be interesting to see how high Bayern’s defence dares to go when they face teams who are quicker in transition,” he stated. It also sees the Bundesliga’s leaders and 24-goal top scorers (from seven games) up against an attack led by Robert Lewandowski that has scored 33 over 10 matches in La Liga. “Barcelona have a lot of young talented players. But ultimately it’s about winning games and titles,” he concluded.
That’s important because Barca have remained very close to the Catalan people in both good and bad times, according to the Swede: “The Catalan people are a nation within a nation and weren’t always respected in Spain.” In the past, people weren’t allowed to speak Catalan or fly the Catalan flag. Those who did so risked prison. “Barca was an opportunity for the people to express their Catalan culture. Barcelona was the flagship of the Catalan fight for many years. That's what their club motto, Mes que un club, is all about.”
„A condition of going far in the Champions League is to allow your opponents few chances and concede few goals.”
Patrik Andersson, FC Bayern legend
Barca’s strengths and weaknesses
Hansi Flick’s attacking, brave and confident 4-2-3-1 system, with which he won the treble with Bayern in 2020, is back in his first year as Blaugrana boss. “His teams are about being very proactive in terms of intensity, applying pressure and playing more vertically then horizontally. Flick likes it when his team press high and in pairs to condition the opposition from the outset,” Andersson said in observation. For that tactical plan to work, it’s important that his team plays in a very compact way. “He wants to build up from the back but not go over the top in terms of risk. That becomes clear when Barcelona keep moving the ball to the full-backs so they can come inside in one-v-ones.” Speed, courage, enjoyment and dynamism are the characteristics of the Catalan giants’ attacking play. They also always have at least three men in the box in a striker, midfielder and a winger. One of those players has been particularly in focus of late. “Lamine Yamal was one of the finds of last season, and all eyes will be on Flick’s plans for next season. I think Yamal will remain one of Barcelona’s most important players,” the ex-Barca man stated.
Given the fact that Flick and the home crowd love attacking, looking to dribble quickly and get away shots, Andersson believes there is one point of weakness: “They play with a lot of space in behind them. Getting in behind is where they’re vulnerable.” For Barcelona, it’s not about whether they win but only how they win. This expectation can also overwhelm the team - perhaps as early as Wednesday evening when Bayern come to Catalonia.
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