When FC Bayern deconstructed the Barcelona Dream Machine in the Champions League last season, there was always the nagging underlying reality that Lionel Messi was not a factor...
... in fact by carrying his injury through merely 7.5km in the 1st Leg, his selection increased the emphatic nature of the scoreline.
Then Jupp Heynckes retired and the mainstream media trailed lots of narratives featuring negative assessments of Guardiola's prospects as the new manager. These ranged from "he is buying at the top - how can last year be improved upon?" to the "he's not match-ready having taken a sabbatical out of the sport for a year" to "his Mediterranean tactics will not suit Bavarian culture".
The knives were out during the experimental period of the pre-season friendlies.
Different formations and tactics were assessed in an enlightened strategy of experimentation and tactical disinformation.
Then the European Super Cup was won in the battle of wills against Jose Mourinho but that defeat was explained away by the harsh red card for Ramirez and the inexperience of Lukaku by Mourinho and media alike.
Then the demolition of Manchester City changed perceptions and the footballing extravaganza put on versus Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League this week was absolute.
35 shots to nil.
22 on target.
35-0 and 22-0.
Two Champions League records.
To those who say that this dominance was "only Plzen", we tell you that the Czech team were the fittest side in Champions League qualification. They have won the very competitive Czech Liga in two of the last three years and are unbeaten in 11 domestic games this term.
FC Bayern are combining the tiki-taka of Catalunya with the manufactured template of Teutonic efficiency to produce the ultimate club team.
UEFA does not allow teams to win consecutive Champions League trophies preferring, instead, to spread the jewels around the cartel.
But FC Bayern aren't even in gear yet, as that will only occur after the mid-season break, and there is already a lot of professional money suggesting that the consecutive winner taboo will be broken this year as it may be that FC Bayern are impossible to stop.
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