By Oliver Trust

BERLIN, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Having lost the first away game in the Champions League since September 2017 is triggering self-doubts at Bayern Munich.

Ahead of the second leg against the FC Villareal (1-0), the poor performance of the 2020 treble winner's team leaders such as Thomas Muller, Manuel Neuer, Robert Lewandowski, and Joshua Kimmich increased perplexity among the Bavarians.

The reigning German champion's hopes now ground on the home-game upcoming Tuesday as the narrow defeat leaves doors open to turn things around.

"We must prepare for the re-match and strike back," Muller said while he and his teammates openly complained about "the wired wildness in our game as we lacked a clear structure" (Muller).

Over four years after losing 3-0 to Paris, the last failed away game, the defeat in Spain seems to shatter the team's self-image.

Having scored most goals in this season's Champions League campaign until the last-8 round, the German's front line ended up in a devastating disappointment.

Predictions made by Karim Benzema seemed to come true after the Real star said Bayern in his respect is far from able to win the 2021/2022 Champions League.

"They conceive too many goals caused by counter-attacks," and if not scoring goals, can be beaten by an averagely skilled but determined team, the French striker had predicted.

While coach Nagelsmann demanded a turnaround next week to secure a possible semifinal, the unrest caused by unsolved contract issues of Lewandowski, Serge Gnabry, Muller, and Neuer seems to affect the team's stability.

Rumors grow Lewandowski might leave after this season, accompanied by reports about Gnabry's doubts to stay.

To be kicked out in the last-8 round would mean a significant setback for Nagelsmann in his first season at Bayern.

Club chairman Oliver Kahn recently said he is concerned about the club's future competitiveness as gains from international markets for Bayern are dropping compared to rising turnovers for international competitors.

The former German international said the club has to keep its financial balance after significant losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic and disadvantages in international markets.

Reports speak of Bayern being in trouble to extend the expensive contract of all of its leading players and at the same time close the gap in the squad.

Dutch and German media talk about the club's intense interest to sign the Ajax players such as midfielder Ryan Gravenberch and full-back Noussair Mazraoui.

While Bayern's 10th consecutive German title seems secured by a nine-point lead in the national league with only six rounds of matches missing, international goals seem in danger.

Despite the setback in Villareal, hopes seemed alive until next Tuesday, "when we have to make up for a poor first game," as Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann put it.

Everyone is aware of what it takes to strike back, the 34-year-old added. "It's up to us to do better," Nagelsmann said, while Bayern might benefit from the changed away-goal rule. The Bavarians need to score one goal more than their Spanish opponents to at least make it into extra time on home soil and turn things from bad to good.