In on a regular basis Germany, it pays to maintain abreast of the information, particularly when you continuously use public transport. Even if you cannot assemble a sentence in German, it’s essential to change into rapidly acquainted with the phrase “Warnstreik,” indicating industrial motion by a significant commerce union, on this case Verdi.
When such motion impacts an enormous matchday in Munich, figuring out that just about half the attendees journey to the Allianz Enviornment by U-Bahn, you understand Verkehrschaos (site visitors chaos) is a potential nightmare. There was even some thought given to suspending Wednesday’s DFB-Pokal quarterfinal towards RB Leipzig, however Bayern Munich‘s energy throughout the metropolis allowed them and the MVG transport authority to provide you with a compromise plan for a skeleton service round match time between the central cease on the Marienplatz and the stadium cease in Fröttmaning.
Whether or not it was the enjoyment of being at a sport that regarded in jeopardy or — maybe extra seemingly — the sheer significance of this one-off event, there was an additional buzz in regards to the environment. The DFB-Pokal, in any case, has been an even bigger nemesis to Bayern these previous few years than any membership opponent. Regardless of being Rekordpokalsieger (file cup winners) with 20 trophy lifts, not since 2020 have Bayern really claimed the Pott.
Towards Leipzig, the prize was a semifinal place for the primary time in six lengthy years, so it was undoubtedly the membership’s largest sport of 2026 to date towards a workforce with the weapons to trigger them issues, however defeats of 6-0 and 5-1 at Bayern’s arms already this season. A sign of how critically Vincent Kompany took it got here by in his workforce choice, an unchanged facet from one aggressive match to the subsequent, one thing that final occurred in September.
The primary 10 minutes have been worrisome for Bayern followers. Leipzig, by coordinated excessive urgent, made their hosts uncomfortable and had a fourth-minute Christoph Baumgartner purpose disallowed as a consequence of a wafer-thin offside margin. Thereafter, although, Bayern took management and wore down the guests from Sachsen with a show of competence.
There was a way of inevitability about it when the 2 objectives arrived three minutes aside after the interval. First a Harry Kane penalty after which a memorable Luis Díaz tally after a splendid move from Michael Olise broke Leipzig’s doughty resistance.
It wasn’t completely good from Kompany’s workforce. Alphonso Davies continues to undergo a tough patch since coming back from long-term damage. Maybe it is comprehensible that he and Jamal Musiala — who got here on as a second-half substitute — are going to require a bit of additional time to scale former heights.
However in his post-match interview with ESPN’s Archie Rhind-Tutt and Thomas Hitzlsperger, you can see what this triumph meant to the membership’s Belgian coach. A likable determine but additionally shrewd within the methods of Bayern, Kompany understands what the Pokal (in addition to current failures within the competitors) represents to the membership bosses and the legions of followers.
Bayern will not know who they’re going to face within the semifinals till Feb. 22, when the draw is made dwell on ARD-Sportschau in entrance of a studio viewers on the German Soccer Museum. The lineup is intriguing, with their three potential opponents all having fared properly within the Pokal within the years of Bayern’s slumber: Bayer Leverkusen, winners in 2024; VfB Stuttgart, final season’s Pokalsieger; and SC Freiburg, who misplaced on penalties within the 2022 remaining earlier than eliminating Bayern in Munich on the quarterfinal stage the next yr.
Joshua Kimmich gave the right reply when requested on Wednesday night time who he may wish to be drawn with. “I simply would love a house draw.”
The semifinals are scheduled for April 21 and 22.
It is Bayern’s Meisterschale to lose
Bayern’s quest for a treble of silverware continues within the Bundesliga on Saturday with a visit to one among their most popular venues up to now few years: Werder Bremen. Fifteen successive victories on the Weserstadion speaks for itself, and it is the place Kane received his first style of the German Oberhaus in 2023, scoring the primary of his 86-and-counting haul.
That Olise is suspended offers the reply to the query of when the France worldwide will get a relaxation after an arduous spell of matches and may give 17-year-old prodigy Lennart Karl the prospect to impress from the outset.
Bayern, having fun with a six-point lead on the high with a significantly superior purpose distinction, will know by the point of kickoff up north whether or not Borussia Dortmund — their solely challengers — have eaten into the benefit on Friday night time. BVB put in solely a mean efficiency final week at VfL Wolfsburg, but discovered a method to win the sport within the 87th minute because of Serhou Guirassy.
Nico Schlotterbeck is serving a suspension this week, Aaron Anselmino has left the membership and Emre Can and Filippo Mané are out injured. Fortunately, coach Niko Kovac can nonetheless area a Dreierkette (again three) of Ramy Bensebaini, Waldemar Anton and Niklas Süle.
It is true that Dortmund have one of the best file of any facet within the Rückrunde, however Kovac should not count on a simple sport towards the workforce instantly behind them on that specific desk: Mainz. Urs Fischer’s appointment has seen the self-styled Karnevalsverein (carnival membership) rocket up the desk and out of the relegation mire.
Fischer, a massively sympathetic determine personally, units his groups as much as be stubborn, frustrate and reap the benefits of particular person moments in video games. He has given inspirational 35-year-old keeper Daniel Batz an opportunity to blossom having beforehand been the membership’s third string.
When it comes to the title equation, BVB have it a lot tougher than Bayern between now and the subsequent Klassiker on the Sign Iduna Park on Feb. 28.
Till then, Die Schwarzgelben have video games each three or 4 days. After Mainz, it is Atalanta house and away within the UEFA Champions League with a troublesome journey to Leipzig sandwiched within the center. Bayern can get pleasure from full coaching weeks between their Bremen go to and the house sport towards Eintracht Frankfurt after which have seven days to prepared themselves for Dortmund.
It stays Bayern’s Meisterschale to lose.
