FC Bayern made a strong statement to kick off the Champions League. The Munich team defeated Bodø/Glimt 5-0 at the Allianz Arena and sits in second place in the standings after the first matchday. Head coach Vincent Kompany expressed satisfaction after the game, but at the same time made it clear that his team is still far from reaching its peak performance.
It was clear, especially in the first half, that the match against the Norwegians—who defended compactly—wouldn’t be a walk in the park for Bayern. Bodø/Glimt surprised everyone with a five-man back line and allowed few clear scoring chances for long stretches of the game.
Kompany was reminded of the 0-0 draw at FC Schalke 04 just a few days earlier. In that match, too, Bayern had plenty of possession but struggled for a long time against a deep-lying opponent. “It was a bit similar to the game against Schalke, where we had to be patient. We could have scored a goal in the first half. In the second half, we scored at the right moment and then really got into our stride.”
Musiala Opens the Door to a Bayern Spectacle
The decisive moment came immediately after halftime. Jamal Musiala put Bayern on the path to victory with the 1-0 goal. Ironically, on his return to the starting lineup, the 23-year-old scored the German record champions’ historic 900th European Cup goal.
After that, the match unfolded exactly as Kompany had described. Harry Kane headed home to make it 2-0, before Alphonso Davies added another with a spectacular drop kick. Michael Olise finally sealed the 5-0 victory with a brace.
Kompany was likely particularly pleased with the team’s determination after taking the lead. Unlike in the match against Schalke, the Munich side capitalized on their opportunities and didn’t let up after going up 1–0.
For FCB, this was not only a successful start to the Champions League. Following their scoreless Bundesliga match, the team also delivered the response the coaching staff had been hoping for.
Kompany: “We’re well-positioned as a squad.”
Despite the lopsided result, Kompany still sees plenty of room for growth in his team. When asked if he was satisfied with the start of the season so far, the Belgian pointed out in particular that not all players are yet at 100 percent.
“As a squad, we’re well-positioned. One or two players are still finding their rhythm. But the guys are already there. We’re already showing some good energy in our counter-pressing. However, we still have a few guys like Jamal or Davies who can step it up even more.”
Musiala and Davies, in particular, are two good examples of this. Both were in the starting lineup against Bodø/Glimt and immediately got on the score sheet. Nevertheless, Kompany still sees potential in both of them as they continue to find their rhythm in the coming weeks.
The 5-0 victory over Bodø/Glimt thus also demonstrates the possibilities Kompany sees in his squad. While some key players are already performing at a high level, others are still on their way to reaching their best form.