The players who make Bayern tick
Bayern Munich have been close to unstoppable this season both in the Bundesliga and in Europe. DW looks at the players who have made Bayern a record-setting football force.
Philipp Lahm
The 29-year-old team captain (holding up this year's Bundesliga trophy) has been a mainstay for the Bavarian giants not only this season but for the past eight years. Undoubtedly one of the world's best outside backs, he not only defends effectively, but gets forward as well. Lahm, captain of the German national team, was born in Munich and joined Bayern as a youngster in 1995.
Mario Mandzukic
Bayern bought the Croatian international from Wolfsburg after his impressive performance during the 2012 European Championship. Money well spent: Due to an early season injury to Mario Gomez, Mandzukic was given an opportunity to make Bayern's starting forward spot his own. He didn't need a second invitation: with 15 goals in just 23 games, he was the team's top Bundesliga scorer this season.
Franck Ribery
Ribery returned to the Bayern lineup with flare this season following a string of injuries. His creativity and speed on the wing cause problems for opposing defenders. The 30-year-old French international is loved by the fans for his fighting spirit on and off the pitch: Scarred in a car accident as a child, he worked as a road construction worker before his footballing career took off.
Arjen Robben
The 29-year-old Dutch international was fighting for a starting spot at the beginning of the season. But the winger has seized his chance following an injury to Toni Kroos, demonstrating that he can still show the form that made him one of the world's best players in 2010. His big game goals - including in the German Cup quarterfinals against Dortmund - have played a part in Bayern's success.
Thomas Müller
Thomas Müller may not be the team's flashiest player, but his excellent positioning and finishing have made him an indispensable part of Bayern's front line. After a breakout World Cup performance in 2010, he's established himself as one of the world's elite attackers. He has covered more distance and scored more goals than any other Bayern player this season in the Champions League.
Javi Martinez
When Bayern dropped a Bundesliga record 40 million euros over the summer to bring in Javi Martinez from Athletic Bilbao, many fans scratched their heads. With an already-packed central midfield, was he necessary? Martinez, however, has since made himself a key part of the Bayern 11. His tough tackles and marking open up space for his partner in the middle of the pitch, Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Dante
Dante was virtually unkown in his home country until he joined Bayern Munich this summer. He spent time in France and Belgium after he first moved to Europe before joining Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2009. Following his 4.7 million euro move to Bavaria, he's managed to become one of the sport's premier central defenders and a projected starter for Brazil when they host the World Cup next year.
Bastian Schweinsteiger
His public show of despair following Bayern's painful defeat in the Champions League final at home last year symbolized Bayern's devastation at the end of another season without a title. This season few attacks were strung together without going through Schweinsteiger first. The midfielder who has been with Bayern since 2002 is a pivotal player, orchestrating from deep and driving the offense.