As the international break draws to a close, the Bayern stars are gradually returning to Munich. Vincent Kompany and his team are about to embark on a mammoth year-end program for the German record champions
Numerous Bayern stars have been in action with their national teams over the past two weeks and have played the last international matches of the year. Many FCB professionals are returning to Munich with a sense of achievement. Not only have the DFB stars around Joshua Kimmich, Serge Gnabry and Co. qualified for the 2026 World Cup with a brilliant 6-0 win over Slovakia, but other players such as Josip Stanisic (Croatia) and Konrad Laimer (Austria) have also punched their ticket for the tournament next summer in the USA, Mexico and Canada with their national teams
Particularly pleasing: apart from a minor calf injury to Aleksander Pavlovic, all Bayern stars are returning to Säbener Straße without injury problems. Many players have been in top form with their national teams. Harry Kane scored a brace against Albania, among others. Serge Gnabry scored twice against Slovakia. DFB youngsters Tom Bischof and Lennar Karl also shone with strong performances for the German U21s
A tough program awaits Bayern at the end of the year
However, the Bayern professionals don’t have much time to catch their breath. FCB fans don’t have time to search for Germany’s best online casinos either. A tight programme awaits them at the end of the year. Bayern will play six matches in the next 2.5 weeks alone, including two very important clashes: On 26 November, they will face Arsenal FC in the Champions League. A win in the top match at the Gunners would not only see Bayern defend their lead in the top flight, but also take a big step towards the round of 16
The difficult cup round of 16 at Union Berlin awaits at the beginning of December (3.12.). The 2:2 draw against the Eisern just before the international break showed how difficult it is for teams to win at the Alte Försterei
The action resumes immediately after the international break with a home match against SC Freiburg next Saturday, and Bayern will be looking to start a new winning streak following their first point loss of the season against Union Berlin
There are still five games in the Bundesliga before the winter break: after Freiburg, they face FC St. Pauli (29.11.), VfB Stuttgart (6.12.), Mainz 05 (14.12.) and, to round off the year, Bayern host 1. FC Heidenheim (21.12.)
Kompany will soon be able to draw on a full complement of players
One particularly pleasing development is that Vincent Kompany will be able to draw almost completely on his full squad in the coming weeks. The two long-term injured players Hiroki Ito and Alphonso Davies returned to team training a few days ago and could make their comeback before the end of the year. Both have been out for months recently
The imminent return of the two will give Kompany more personnel options again, especially in defense
Jamal Musiala is also making great progress, but the 22-year-old will have to wait a little longer. His comeback is not planned until 2026
FC Bayern are entering the toughest phase of the year with a strong tailwind – and are ideally placed to make a powerful statement in the Bundesliga, cup and Champions League.