5 matches that defined Bayern's title win | OneFootball

5 matches that defined Bayern Munich's title-winning campaign

After 12 months without the trophy that was for so long theirs, Bayern Munich are back on the top step of the Bundesliga podium. bundesliga.com looks at five matches that defined their triumphant campaign...

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1) Matchday 1: Wolfsburg 2-3 Bayern Munich

Vincent Kompany’s first official outing as Bayern head coach came against Ulm in the first round of DFB Cup – a comfortable 4-0 triumph for the Bavarians – but the following weekend threw up his first taste of German football’s elite as he and his team travelled to Wolfsburg for their Bundesliga opener.

Things started well enough, with Jamal Musiala breaking the deadlock inside 20 minutes, but the Wolves began the second half fantastically. Lovro Majer equalised from the penalty spot within 120 seconds of the restart, and gave his side the lead a few minutes later to put Kompany under immediate pressure in his new role.

However, Bayern showed their mental resilience and, although a slice of fortune – namely Jakub Kamiński’s own goal – helped them equalise, Serge Gnabry struck late on to secure all three points. Every new head coach is desperate to hit the ground running and this result set the tone for the rest of the season.

2) Matchday 7: Bayern Munich 4-0 VfB Stuttgart

Bayern’s opening four games were a roaring success: four matches, 16 goals scored, four conceded. That saw them race to the top of the table, but difficult fixtures against Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt garnered only two points. Hardly a poor return against opponents of that calibre, of course, but it slowed their momentum and gave Kompany food for thought.

On paper, their next fixture was challenging, too. After all, VfB Stuttgart had finished runners-up in 2023/24, ahead of Bayern in third, and they came into the match on the back of a five-game unbeaten league streak.

In reality, though, this was a swashbuckling display from a team eager to lay down a marker against one of the division’s best teams. The scoreline was goalless at the interval, but a stunning second-half display, including a Harry Kane hat-trick, ensued. Kingsley Coman netted a fourth in the last minute of normal time to add gloss to a tour de force from the record champions.

3) Matchday 22: Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Bayern Munich

The team to beat after last season's unbeaten run to the Bundesliga and DFB Cup, Leverkusen entered Matchday 22 having lost just once. Victory would have seen them gap close to five points with 12 games to play, giving the holders a psychological edge and momentum, but Bayern just wouldn't budge.

Despite being under intense pressure for most of the match and managing just two shots, and none on target - their lowest totals respectively since records began in the 1990s - the league leaders came away with an invaluable point.

It was the second time Kompany had matched Alonso in the league after a comeback draw in Munich earlier in the campaign, and showed how, when the going get tough, his Bayern side get going.

4) Matchday 23: Bayern Munich 4-0 Eintracht Frankfurt

There were subsequent questions about Bayern’s style of play against Leverkusen, given how little they threatened. Another test of their credentials immediately followed that clash, too, as they hosted high-flying Frankfurt at the Allianz Arena.

This time, though, they were back to their dominant best and ran out commanding winners. They had to wait until the brink of half-time for the opening goal courtesy of Michael Olise, before the floodgates truly opened.

There was a special moment for Hiroki Itō around the hour mark as he scored his first Bayern goal since his summer move from Stuttgart, while Musiala and Gnabry completed the scoring late on. Frankfurt, who sat third in the table at the time, had no answers as Bayern racked up a routine three points in their quest for glory.

5) Matchday 31: Bayern Munich 3-0 Mainz

If Bayern were going to falter with the finish line in sight, then this was surely the banana skin they could well have slipped up on. With a game against Leipzig to follow, Kompany's crew could ill afford to allow a Mainz side do the double over them in 2024/25. The 05ers had inflicted a first Bundesliga defeat on Vincent Kompany as Bayern coach earlier in the campaign and, although the rekordmeister had previously eased past Heidenheim, mood in the camp was somewhat subdued after a UEFA Champions League exit to Inter Milan. Bayern's opponents may have been enduring a poor run, but Bo Henriksen's men, who had been as high as third, were eager to get their European chase back up and running. To the relief of the home fans at the Allianz Arena, Bayern came through the test, with goals from Sané, Olise and Eric Dier ensuring the title was more or less wrapped up with three games to go.

Check the Bundesliga standings and Bayern's unassailable lead ...

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