New sponsor deal no consolation as Bayern lose Robben and Lewandowski
MUNICH: The ‘good news/bad news’ syndrome has assailed German champions and Champions League semi-finalists Bayern Munich.
The club have extended their long-term partnership with sportswear sponsor – and club shareholder – Adidas. However their German cup exit 2-0 on penalties last night to Borussia Dortmund also brought serious injuries to two of their star forwards – as well as killing off prospects of a treble-title season.
Dutch winger Arjen Robben has been ruled out for the season with left thigh muscle tear while and Poland centre-forward Robert Lewandowski risks missing the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona with a broken jaw.
As for the Adidas deal, it will run for a further 10 years, from 2020-21 to 2029-30. The existing agreement between the two parties was due to run for another five seasons, until the end of the 2019-20 season. The new agreement is worth a total of €900m.
Adidas has an 8.3pc stake in Bayern and spokesman Oliver Brüggen said the deal represented a statement that the company remained true to its strategy of working on “co-operations with top teams and federations in international football.”
The injuries to Robben and Lewandowski come only a week before Bayern travel to Barcelona for next week’s Champions League last four clash, dealing a major blow to their hopes of lifting the trophy on home soil with the final scheduled to be played in Berlin in June.
Robben had been in superb form until being injured in March, scoring 17 league goals. Against Dortmund he lasted only 16 minutes as a second half substitute for the injured Thiago Alcantara.
Lewandowski, who was hurt in a collision with Dortmund goalkeeper Mitch Langerak, broke his upper jaw and nose and suffered concussion.
The Poland striker had scored nine goals in his last 11 matches for the Bavarians, who secured the Bundesliga title last week with four games to spare.
He appears unlikely to be fit for next Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final, first leg in Barcelona for which Bayern were already likely to be without Franck Ribery and David Alaba.
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