Position
FC Bayern have clocked up an impressive 20 goals in their last three matches. "It was a fantastic week for us when you look at how many goals we’ve scored," said Harry Kane at the Oktoberfest. No surprise that the traditional visit to the festival in Munich saw the Bayern camp on top form. "Of course, it's brilliant to win the games the way we've done it. We’ve made a strong start to the season up till now," said a happy Kane but he also sounded a warning: "As always it's about us having to carry on like that." He is obviously hoping the run continues on a personal level too. The England international has found the back of the net eight times in the last three emphatic victories, including four goals from the penalty spot.
A 6-1 win away to newly promoted Holstein Kiel was followed by a 9-2 victory over Dynamo Zagreb at home in the Champions League and last weekend saw a 5-0 win away to Werder Bremen. FC Bayern have equalled the best start for a team in the history of the Bundesliga with four wins from four Bundesliga games and a goal difference of +13 (16-3). That return from four matches was last achieved by Bayern Munich (2016/17) and VfB Stuttgart (1996 – 97).
Matchday five brings the top clash with Bayer 04. Harry Kane respects the forthcoming opponents: "It will definitely be a different game against Leverkusen. Last season they showed how strong they are. It will be a tough game," declared the world class striker as he demanded: "We have to go into the game against Leverkusen with the same mentality, the same hunger as we did in previous matches." Coach Vincent Kompany is expecting to make an assessment of his team: "We've won all the games we’ve had to so far. This will be a different game and a big match against the champions of Germany. Everybody wants to win against the champions of Germany.”
Personnel
Kompany does not have a full squad to choose from at the moment. However, 38-year-old Belgian coach does have enough top players for the clash with Bayer 04. Injury rules out the central defender Hiroki Ito (fractured metatarsal), the loanee returned from Leverkusen Joseph Stanisic (knee) and his fellow defender Sacha Boey (knee).
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who did not play in the 5-0 win in Bremen due to a knock in the game against Dynamo Zagreb, should be back in goal on Saturday. Dayot Upamecano and Min-Jae Kim are first choices in the centre of the back four with Alphonso Davies likely to start on the left against the Werkself. On the right side of defence, both Konrad Laimer and Raphael Guerreiro are options. Kompany has recently fielded two holding midfielders in Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic with Jamal Musiala playing as a number ten. The Portuguese player Joao Palhinha, signed from Fulham in the summer, could play in the centre of the park.
Harry Kane is the first choice up front. He is already top scorer in the Bundesliga with five goals and has scored ten across all competitions. New signing Michael Olise (Crystal Palace) has already proved to be a big hit on the right wing. The 22-year-old Frenchman has scored five goals for FC Bayern and provided three assists in the last three matches. The winger produced an outstanding performance against Werder Bremen. Serge Gnabry has also been in very good form recently on the left flank. Kingsley Coman is an alternative on the wing. The Bayern bench has several top players including super sub Thomas Müller, Leroy Sané, Leon Goretzka and Eric Dier.
Problems
Three goals conceded in four games is by no means a poor return. Only RB Leipzig and Union Berlin have each conceded one goal fewer. By comparison: The Werkself have already let in nine goals. However, FC Bayern are susceptible at the back. The central defenders Dayot Upamecano and Min-Jae Kim have looked uncertain in one or two games. The South Korean made a blunder for the second goal conceded in the 3-2 win against Wolfsburg. And his fellow defender Upamecano does not always look dominant. The Bayern defence did not look good in the two goals conceded in the 9-2 victory over Dynamo Zagreb. The comments from Jamal Musiala after the win in Bremen were understandable: "It's important for us to keep a clean sheet. We haven’t managed that in the last few games." It remains to be seen how solid the defence of the record champions will be.
Performers
The dominance of Bayern in the 5-0 win in Bremen was not just reflected in the result but also in the shots on goal stats with FCB having 25 and conceding none. "We have so much quality up front and also stability midfield and that makes football fun," said Musiala, the scorer of the second goal and the creative heart of the Bayern Munich attack. Bayern have scored 29 goals in six games. That is almost an average of five per game – impressive – and a new club record. The previous best after six games was 28 goals in the 2021/22 season.
As in the previous campaign, Harry Kane can be relied on to find the back of the net. The England international, top scorer in the league last term with 36 goals, is again showing incredible consistency in front of goal – with headers, in the penalty area, from outside the box, and from the penalty spot. Kane has scored at least one goal a game with the exception of the match against Wolfsburg and he not only stands out as a finisher but also as a provider with six assists to date. The 31-year-old clearly leads the stats in terms of goals and assists.
Kompany demands a high press from his team and that has worked almost perfectly in the last few matches. Bayern have made the most passes in the league to date (2,955) and also have the best pass completion (90.2%). Bayer 04 are in second place in both rankings (2,593 passes, pass completion 89%). The FCB work rate is also impressive. They covered 120 kilometres against Werder Bremen, six more than the opponents. The record champions are currently brimming with confidence, full of joy playing and happy to put in the running.
