A cup rout in a turbulent week
Bayern Munich beat second-tier Magdeburg 6-1 in the second round of the DFB-Pokal and moved into the last 16, according to [1]. Michael Olise scored twice and set up another goal, taking his tally to 12 across all competitions this season. [2] singled out a Panenka-style penalty from him, and noted the match had been 1-1 at one stage before Bayern pulled away.
The line-up showed rotation. Hiroki Ito came in for Dayot Upamecano and Ismael Saibari replaced Harry Kane, who was rested. Afterwards, [3] reported that Jonathan Tah praised the young players, among them goalscorer Santos, saying everyone in the squad is ready to contribute. A separate [4] report said Bayern scored early and controlled the game, with players competing for places in the weekend line-up.
Kompany’s absence and Danks in charge
The bigger story is off the pitch. Head coach Vincent Kompany was discharged from hospital after collapsing at training with meningeal irritation, [5] reported. [6] said Bayern expect his return to the dugout to be weeks away, not days. [7] added that sporting director Max Eberl confirmed a rehabilitation plan is in place, though no timeline has been given.
Assistant Aaron Danks has taken charge. He was on the bench for the 3-1 win at Freiburg on Sunday and again against Magdeburg. [8] reported that he explained the decision to leave Kane out, and that Kane is expected to supply goal threat again against Dortmund and Real Madrid. Kane has scored 10 goals in 12 appearances this season, so the rest looks like a managed one rather than a concern.
Klassiker team news
Bayern host Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, and the two sides are level on points at the top, according to [9]. Bayern have scored 25 league goals, while Dortmund have the joint-second-best defence but only 12 goals. Kompany will not be on the touchline, and Danks will make the decisions.
The squad picture is unsettled. Luis Díaz is out. Serge Gnabry is the likely replacement in attack, though that is still a rumour. Manuel Neuer is a doubt, with Jonas Urbig seen as a strong deputy, according to a [10]. That preview refers to Joshua Kimmich as absent, while the other Bundesliga.com piece lists him, along with Aleksandar Pavlović, as doubtful. Jamal Musiala is fighting to be involved but is not certain to play. Those reports conflict, so the midfield is the area to watch.
There is a positive on the home front too. Bayern are unbeaten at the Allianz Arena this season and have scored a record 18 Bundesliga goals there.
What it means
Bayern sit first in the Bundesliga with 17 points from 7 games (W5 D2 L0), with 25 goals scored and 6 conceded. The recent form is strong but not flawless. They beat Freiburg 3-1 and Leipzig 6-1, but drew 2-2 with Arsenal in the Champions League, 3-3 at Viking and 2-2 at Augsburg. The pattern is plenty of goals and plenty conceded in the games they did not win.
That shapes what Saturday asks. Dortmund’s defence is among the league’s best, so Bayern’s attack faces its sternest test. The Magdeburg win suggests the depth is there, but a patched-up back line and midfield, plus a stand-in coach, make this a different kind of examination. Bayern’s next fixture is the Klassiker on 31 October, and the site’s forecast for it locks 24 hours before kick-off, so no pick is published here yet.
Sources
- Bundesliga.com: DFB Cup holders Bayern Munich hit Magdeburg for six to reach last 16 bundesliga.com ↩
- Kicker: Olise mit frechem Panenka-Elfmeter: Bayern zaubert sich zum 6:1-Sieg kicker.de ↩
- Kicker: Tah freut das Santos-Tor: "Zeigt, dass einfach jeder bereit ist" kicker.de ↩
- Kicker: "Wichtigste Nachricht schon vor Anpfiff": Bayern schießen sich warm kicker.de ↩
- Sky Sports: Kompany discharged from hospital after collapsing at training skysports.com ↩
- BBC Sport: Kompany discharged from hospital following collapse bbc.co.uk ↩
- Kicker: Eberl bestätigt: Kompany nach Hirnhautreizung aus Krankenhaus entlassen kicker.de ↩
- Kicker: Danks erklärt Bankplatz von Kane: "Lange her, dass wir die Möglichkeit hatten" kicker.de ↩
- Bundesliga.com: Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund evenly matched heading into Klassiker statement bundesliga.com ↩
- Bundesliga.com: Why Bayern Munich can beat Borussia Dortmund in Der Klassiker bundesliga.com ↩
