Insights after Bergamo: Bayern’s talent pool is impressive | OneFootball

FC Bayern confidently wins the second leg of the round of 16 tie against Atalanta Bergamo. FCBinside provides three insights into the match

Bayern ran out clear 4-1 winners against the Italians to advance to the quarter-finals, where Real Madrid now await. The game provided the following insights

1. Bayern’s talent pool is impressive

In addition to the dominant run to the quarter-finals, the professional debuts of two Bayern talents were the story of the game. 18-year-old Deniz Ofli was substituted for Aleksandar Pavlovic in the 55th minute, while 16-year-old Filip Pavic came on for Josip Stanisic in the 72nd minute. At 16 years, one month and 27 days, he is now the youngest Bayern player ever to appear in a Champions League match. Overall, only Paul Wanner was younger when he made his Bundesliga debut

Both youth players did well, with Ofli even initiating the 3-0 win when he won the ball. Pavic shone as a central defender with great composure and a 100% pass rate. FC Bayern’s youth work has long been criticized, but Munich’s talent pool is now impressive

The campus is now regularly churning out new players for the first team, and this season, under coach Vincent Kompany, seven more players from the club’s own youth academy have already made their debut in the FCB starting squad: Cassiano Kiala (17), Jonah Kusi-Asare (18, now on loan to Fulham), Felipe Chavez (18, now on loan to Cologne), David Santos Daiber (19), Maycon Cardozo (17), Wisdom Mike (17) and Lennart Karl (17)

Not so long ago, a certain Aleksandar Pavlovic made it from the campus into the first team. He is now a regular and international player. In the young Bayern team, he already feels more like a veteran than a newcomer

Bayern are on the right track with their new youth style. What is particularly noticeable is that all the talented players who have been given their chance so far can also hold their own in professional soccer. The level of training with Harry Kane and Co. is so high that the talented players are well prepared for the tasks that await them. Even in the premier class

2. Karl and Urbig are rewarded

Two young Bayern players are already a step ahead of Ofli, Pavic and co. The day of the Bergamo game was certainly a very special one for them. It had already leaked out on Wednesday that Lennart Karl would be called up for the German senior national team for the first time. During the game, media reports ran across the ticker that national coach Julian Nagelsmann would also be taking Bayern goalkeeper Jonas Urbig with him to the test matches against Switzerland and Ghana

Being called up for the national team is always a great honour, but these games are even more special: the squad for the upcoming World Cup is being formed. With the nomination, both have a great chance of being taken to the tournament in the summer. That is the dream of every footballer

The 18-year-old Karl and 22-year-old Urbig could be rewarded for their remarkable rise to prominence with a trip to the World Cup. Karl only made his debut for the Bayern professionals at the Club World Cup in the summer. A year later, he could represent Germany at the World Cup. Urbig came to Munich in January 2025 as Cologne’s stand-in keeper, and around a year ago he made his debut as Neuer’s deputy in the Champions League against Leverkusen. He is now seen as a possible successor to Neuer in the Bayern goal – and already in the medium term between the posts of the German national team

3. Bayern are now favorites – and not just against Real

Bayern will face Real Madrid in the next round. Two years ago, they lost to the Whites in the semi-finals. Now, the German record champions are rightly considered favourites against coach Alvaro Arbeloa’s team – and not just against Real

Bayern are now also favourites to win the trophy. That was underlined by their performance against Bergamo. The 6:1 victory in the first leg was a footballing lesson for the Italians. The 4:1 in the second leg was the next demonstration of power. Many coaches would have slowed down a gear or two after such a clear result in the first game and managed to progress. Kompany is always at full throttle

photo: IMAGO

The victory in the Allianz Arena was a message to Real and the whole of Europe: Bayern want this title and are unbeatable at home. Home advantage is a big plus for FCB, alongside their footballing class: they will play the second leg of both the quarter-final and a possible semi-final at home

With their own fans behind them, the team can play the second leg against Mbappé, Vini Junior and co. In the next round, they would then face the winner of PSG v Liverpool. The way Bayern have presented themselves all season, they would certainly not go into the next clash as underdogs.