Summary: Still the last of the undefeated in Europe, the Bayern Munich assault on the Bundesliga and beyond has placed the team in a unique chase for some vaunted history while the J League opened this past weekend with a harsh lesson dished out to Cerezo Osaka and its impressive new piece in Diego Forlan as the top flight in Japan resumed in a World Cup year with many questions. We begin nowhere else but the talk of Bayern Munich as its domination of German football extends beyond the German borders and into some very rare history in the chase for consecutive titles in Europe and an unbeaten streak last touched nearly a generation ago. Broadcaster Tim Caple weighs in on both the strengths and also the one weakness that opponents must consider along with the emergence of Thiago, the return of Bastian Schweinsteiger, the tease of the Toni Kroos contract and a future for the Bundesliga which appears even more dire as the Bavarian club now holds such an economic stranglehold on top talent both domestically and abroad that can only be challenged by the likes of the top buyers. We also take a look at the brothers Boateng and where this Bayern team could rank if Guardiola can take them to that next step. In part two Ken Matsushima weighs in on the start of the 2014 J.League to weigh up the favorites, the arrival of Diego Forlan and what early days suggest, along with the key questions going into a season that will be disrupted by player moves and a World Cup that could see another surprise champions as in years past. We also revisit the 1989 Intercontinental Cup to track back to a moment in football history to gauge its impact on the Japanese and world game, inspiring a generation of top level Japanese talent that now has turned its eyes to Europe.
