Bayern Munich: Back Among the Greats | OneFootball

If you step into the grand halls of European football and look around, you’ll see familiar titans carved into the stone. Real Madrid, Liverpool, Juventus, and Barcelona have always stood like old monarchs, and for the longest time, Bayern Munich was right there with them. But in recent years, the landscape has shifted. New teams like Manchester City and Chelsea have risen, nudging Bayern off that exclusive pedestal. Yet here we are now, watching as Bayern quietly reclaims its stature. 

A Balanced Attack

Under Vincent Kompany, Bayern’s attack isn’t just about flair. It’s about smart rotations that let each player shine in multiple roles. Once seen as an idealist trying to impose expansive football on a limited Burnley squad, Kompany now looks every inch the top-tier manager at Bayern. With players like Kane and Olise thriving in multiple roles, he’s turning those grand ideas into reality.

They can break down low blocks with creative wide play, or shift to a direct style by letting Kane drop deep and the wide players stretch the pitch. It’s not just about a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3. It’s about fluidly occupying different spaces so the opposition never faces the same question twice. And the numbers back it up: Bayern leads the Bundesliga in expected goals, averaging about 2.74 xG per game (stats via xGscore), and they’re firing off about 19 shots a match with a high conversion rate. In other words, their fluidity isn’t just pretty, it’s producing results.

An Aggressive Defense

While their attack dazzles, Bayern’s defence is just as relentless. Under Kompany’s guidance, they’ve mastered a high-intensity, man-to-man pressing game that suffocates opponents. It’s not just about winning the ball back quickly; it’s about doing it with precision and focus. Their pressing prowess is reflected in their impressively low Passes Per Defensive Action (PPDA), around 7. This is one of the best in Europe (stats via Opta). That means they allow very few passes before applying defensive pressure, forcing teams into mistakes and keeping Bayern in control.

But it’s not just about intensity, it’s about the dedication of all 11 players. For example, you’ll see moments where a forward like Luis Díaz tracks back all the way to his own defensive line, showing that defending starts from the front and every player is committed. It’s this unity of effort that keeps Bayern in control, even in moments when they don’t have the ball.

A Perfect Balance

Bayern Munich under Kompany have found that sweet spot where ideas meet execution, and where attack and defense are two sides of the same coin. They’re a team that can captivate with fluid, adaptable attacking play, and then turn around and suffocate you with relentless pressing. It’s that completeness, the ability to pose new challenges all over the pitch, that makes them such a force right now. And as they continue this run, it’s clear that Bayern are once again a giant not just standing among Europe’s elite, but dictating the terms.