For FC Bayern, a pivotal phase of the season begins on Saturday evening. With the top Bundesliga matchup against RB Leipzig, the German record champions are kicking off a challenging stretch of weeks. In addition to the Saxons, Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, and Atlético Madrid, among others, await Vincent Kompany’s team. The Bayern coach sees this primarily as a great opportunity.
Yet this demanding schedule comes at a particularly inopportune time. Following a 2-2 draw against FC Augsburg and a 3-3 tie at Viking Stavanger, the Munich side has recently suffered two setbacks in a row.
The defense, in particular, revealed uncharacteristic weaknesses. Conceding five goals in two games is far too many for a team with the record champions’ standards. Sporting director Max Eberl also voiced strong criticism following the Champions League draw.
Kompany, however, isn’t letting that rattle him.
Kompany is looking forward to facing Europe’s top teams
At the press conference ahead of the Leipzig match, the 40-year-old expressed great anticipation for the upcoming challenges. “The team is fired up and still motivated. I think we’re entering a stretch where we can look forward to every game. We’re going up against the very best. That does something to a team,” Kompany explained.
Despite the recent results, the Belgian still sees a solid foundation within his team. “Our foundation is a lot of energy and a willingness to run. We’ve had that foundation. Then it’s about enjoying the game.”
Above all, the attitude of his players in training gives the Bayern coach cause for optimism.
“You can already see the foundation—in every session, the guys push themselves to the limit. It’s fun to witness that. They’re true professionals!”
Bayern faces some pivotal weeks ahead
With Leipzig, Arsenal, Freiburg, Dortmund, and Atlético Madrid on the horizon, the Munich side faces opponents who are likely to demand everything from them. On top of that, there’s another match in the DFB Cup.
For Kompany, however, the heavy workload in the fall is nothing new.
“It’s always the same at this stage. Two years ago we had Barcelona, last year Arsenal and PSG. It’s always in October and November that the intensity is very high. That’s nothing new.”
The key will be whether Bayern can correct their defensive mistakes in time.
Offensively, the record champions still possess tremendous quality. However, the past two games have shown that individual mistakes and a lack of concentration can prove costly, even against supposedly weaker opponents.
The coming weeks will therefore be a real test of resilience for Kompany and his team. They’ll aim to take the first step back on the path to success against Leipzig on Saturday night.