Our next opponents: Kompany, Kimmich, Kane leading relentless Bayern Munich

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It was, admittedly, only a question of time before Bayern’s Bundesliga title defence was confirmed. They have now done it with four games to spare after their win over Stuttgart at the weekend. The champagne threatened to remain on ice after a sluggish start to the game, but as so often this season they didn’t let conceding a goal knock them off their game. Chris Führich’s opening strike was made irrelevant thanks to a blistering spell of three goals in six first-half minutes through Raphael Guerreiro, Nicolas Jackson and Alphonso Davies. Harry Kane added a fourth off the bench early in the second period. Chema Andrés netted a late consolation for the visitors at the Allianz Arena.

It’s the team’s second trophy of the season after winning last August’s Franz Beckenbauer Supercup away at Stuttgart, and they are targeting two more before the campaign is out. That’s why celebrations on Sunday remained muted as they turned their attentions to the semi-final in Leverkusen. “It definitely won’t be an easy game, but I’m relatively optimistic we can get to Berlin,” said Bayern president Herbert Hainer. The Munich club’s season undoubtedly gives them reason to be confident going into the final straight. They are on a 17-game unbeaten run, of which they have won 15. The only two draws came away at Hamburg (2-2) and Bayer 04 (1-1). Their sole league loss of 2025/26 came at home to Augsburg (2-1), meaning Leverkusen remain the only undefeated champions in Bundesliga history.

Joshua Kimmich is now a 10-time Bundesliga champion, but the 31-year-old also pointed out what he believes made this title so special: “This hasn’t been a season with ups and downs so far. We’ve been very consistent. We’ve not managed that before in the previous 11 years with the 10 titles. We’ve rarely been this consistent and commanding in winning the title as this year, so we’re very proud.” Bayern’s lead at the Bundesliga summit is 15 points with four games to go. They have also been making their mark in Europe this season. Last week they produced one of the most exciting games of 2025/26 as they beat Real Madrid in Munich, having also won the first leg 2-1 in Spain. The Bavarians had to come from behind three times in their home game before Michael Olise grabbed the winner on the night in added time. Their semi-final tie against holders Paris Saint-Germain starts at the end of April.

First, though, is Wednesday’s trip to the BayArena. It’s the first time since 2020 that the Munich club have got through to the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal. They began the campaign with a dramatic late 3-2 win at Wehen Wiesbaden of the 3. Liga. Their second round tie away at Köln was more clear-cut at 4-1, before grinding out another 3-2 victory at Union Berlin. Their quarter-final at home to RB Leipzig was an open affair until goals from Harry Kane and Luis Diaz sent them through.

Personnel

Bayern have lost Serge Gnabry for the season’s run-in after the 30-year-old sustained a groin injury before the Stuttgart game. The Germany international ranks fourth in the team’s scoring chart behind Kane, Olise and Diaz with eight goals and seven assists in 21 Bundesliga games, but his chances of going to this summer’s World Cup are now very much in the balance. “We’ll really miss him in the changing room and on the pitch. But I hope we can make up for his absence,” Kimmich said of his friend and teammate. Jamal Musiala came into the team for Gnabry against Stuttgart and is expected to start again at the BayArena.

As well as Gnabry, Bayern are also set to be without Tom Bischof and Lennart Karl with muscular issues. Still, Kompany is expected to go with his first-choice XI in Leverkusen after resting the likes of Manuel Neuer, Jonathan Tah, Dayot Upamecano, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Olise and Kane against Stuttgart.

Problems

Bayern are not impenetrable when it comes to their defence. Real Madrid scored three against them, including a direct free-kick from Arda Güler. Set pieces remains somewhat of an issue for the Bundesliga champions, including conceding from a corner in their recent 3-2 win at Freiburg. Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal have also netted from dead balls this season.

In addition, the Bavarians have had some problems against teams who look to press them high and early. It was Montrell Culbreath’s persistency against Diaz that helped Leverkusen take the lead through Aleix Garcia in their 1-1 draw against Bayern on Matchday 26. The Werkself had further good chances in that game thanks to their quick, direct style of play.

Performers

There are few teams out there at the moment who can compete with Bayern’s attack. They have smashed the Bundesliga’s single-season scoring record of 101 goals from 1971/72, already on 109 with four games to go. Over half of that total has come from the trio of Kane (32), Diaz (15) and Olise (12). Adding in assists and all three have had a direct hand in over 30 goals this season.

One notable aspect of Bayern’s approach this season is that they almost never simply sit on a lead. They instead look to add to it. President Hainer was full of praise for the team and coach Kompany at the weekend, saying, “The team is so dominant. They bring you so much joy and never stop. We’ve seen that in many results, going until the last minute, even when 5-0 up, like we saw against St. Pauli as they wanted a sixth. Huge credit obviously goes to the coach.”