Hummels: Mid-season break not an advantage

Bayern Munich defender Mats Hummels played down suggestions his team's mid-season break would be an advantage against Arsenal in the Champions League.

The Bundesliga leaders, who were last in action before Christmas, host Arsenal in the first leg of their last-16 tie on February 15.

While Bayern have been on their break, Premier League clubs are going through their busy holiday periods.

But Hummels feels that will have no impact when the teams meet at the Allianz Arena.

"I think that it won't affect both teams at this early stage. We and Arsenal will have our rhythm and until then we have three compulsory games," he said.

"So I think that it won't have an impact that they didn't have a winter break."

Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti was under pressure earlier in the season, but his team claimed six straight wins to finish the year.

Defender David Alaba said his team simply needed time to adapt to the Italian, who took over in July.

"Maybe we needed some time to understand and implement the philosophy of our new coach," he said.

"But at the end of the first leg we showed that we are on the right track. We want to work hard and continue our work in the training camp and then play our best football."

Bayern play a friendly against Eupen on Tuesday before returning to competitive action at Freiburg on January 20.