The first knockout round against Liverpool : Virgil van Dijk of FC Bayern could fail

to stop

Robert Lewandowski, is not an easy task. The had to know the defense of the VfL Wolfsburg at the 0:6 last weekend for the umpteenth Time, when it was overrun by the Polish striker of FC Bayern. But it is also not an impossible task. It is well prepared, you can keep Lewandowski in check. And Virgil van Dijk is well-prepared.

"I study my opponent always", said the defensive leader Liverpool FC have this week "Uefa.com". "You can give a striker like Lewandowski is not a Chance, because he will punish you for this. If he band on you and tries to you get you must prepared for it, and sometimes just clever.“

On Wednesday evening (21 clock, live on Sky) will compete Lewandowski and FC Bayern in the return leg of the Champions League eighth finals for the first Time, with van Dijk. The 0:0 in the first leg, the Dutchman was still locked in yellow. Now he is back , Bayern have to past him. You need to have in their own stadium a goal, if you want to come in 90 or 120 minutes. The German Champions have to attack. Also van Dijk is prepared.

"We need to prepare for a big fight," he said on Monday. "Bayern will have to throw everything forward, especially in the beginning. It will be hard, because you have a lot of quality. But we have the quality and also we will have our moments.“

one Thinks of Liverpool FC under Jürgen Klopp, one thinks especially of the quality in the attack. In the past two seasons, players such as Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio have delighted Mané with rapid shift game the whole of Europe. However, the reason that Liverpool is playing this season seriously for the Premier League title, says Virgil van Dijk.

Van Dijks strength is the perfect Timing

The 27-Year-old is a nearly complete player. As defense chief, he is a Motivator and a strategic clock at the same time. Since then, he keeps order in the Defensive, disciplined, but also militant in the Liverpool defence. The individual strength that makes him in the two fight so strong: the perfect Timing, with which he can wipe out with an outstretched leg, the greatest danger comes.

Like no other defender he can be in reverse gear with his adversary, and at the last Moment, the Ball of the foot of informers. Or in the Sprint of a run away striker, seek to conquer the back fair the Ball. His 1.93 meters are deceptive, he often sneaks nimble in the smallest of spaces – whether in their own or in the opponent's penalty area.

Coordinates of the Fall: Van Dijk (l.) wegspitzeln against Burnleys Chris Wood on the Ball.Photo: Cairnduff/Reuters

of Course, others have contributed to the successful season of Liverpool. In Alisson Becker of Liverpool has for the first Time under Klopp is a top-class goalkeeper. Also players like Georginio Wijnaldum and Fabinho have given the Reds a better Balance and an additional boost of quality. But it is van Dijk who has made all the difference. Almost a year ago, he came to almost 85 million euros from FC Southampton and became the most expensive defender in the history of football. Apparently it was worth the investment.

thanks to van Dijk, Liverpool has the best defense in the League

Because there used to be for Liverpool at all offensive quality problems in the back rows. In the first three seasons under Klopp, they conceded 40 to 50 goals in the League and had the Top Six Teams with the worst defense. Since then, van Dijk's there, everything is different. This season, Liverpool, with only 17 goals conceded, by far the defensive strongest team in the Premier League.

In the past few weeks, the Reds fought with the first right form of deep, playful lead on Manchester City and were displaced from the top. The like some Bayern fans to enjoy. But it is also a fact: the has Lost to Liverpool only once this season – against Manchester City. In the most recent five League Liverpool stopped play four times Zero.

Counter-New has made van Dijk

"Liverpool are a completely different team, if van Dijk is back," said the former Bayern and Liverpool-professional Dietmar Hamann in "Sky". "He's organized, he conducts, he is a goal threat, with its own Standards."

Large tongue: The Dutchman Virgil van Dijk (right) celebrates his goal against Germany in November 2018.Photo: John MacDougall/AFP

In almost all corners and free kicks, van Dijk lurking around the border at the far post or the penalty area. Against Watford he showed recently with two headed goals, his strength in the air. But his shot can hurt. The white Bayern-Keeper Manuel Neuer is already against the van Dijk, the late equalizer in the countries scored against Germany last November.

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6:0 win against Wolfsburg, FC Bayern and the Department attack

The Bavarians are so warned. The 0:0 in the first leg, a good output may be position, the team of Niko Kovac seems to have your best form again discovered, and the Reds may still be stuck in the small crisis. But on Wednesday night, Virgil van Dijk is back. And in such a close game, he could be the decisive player.