GOAL, ASSIST & RECORD: LENNART KARL STARRED HELPS BAYERN MATCH BUNDESLIGA DOMINANCE STREAK
17-year-old Lennart Karl starred with a goal and an assist as Bayern Munich came from 2-0 down to thrash Freiburg 6-2. The win equals Bayern's 52-year-old record of 43 consecutive rounds at the top.
On Saturday, the 17-year-old Lennart Karl shone for Bayern Munich as the Bundesliga frontrunners staged an impressive comeback from a two-goal deficit to defeat Freiburg 6-2, equaling a long-standing record.
This match marked Karl's ninth appearance in the league and his second time in the starting lineup. By scoring, assisting, and showcasing his brilliant skills, he sent a significant message to Germany's national coach, Julian Nagelsmann, ahead of next year's World Cup.
Bayern's head coach, Vincent Kompany, remarked during his press conference, "Lenny... it's always quite challenging. When a team puts six goals on the board, many players contribute to that success.
"The key moment was undoubtedly when we scored to make it 2-1. That phase was crucial and highlighted a lot of talent. Few players have that capability, but it shifted our momentum. What followed was the collective effort of numerous players performing well."
The young talent, who previously made history this season by becoming the youngest scorer for Bayern in the Champions League, etched his name in the record books again by becoming the youngest player from the club to score and assist in a Bundesliga match.
Only one player younger than him has achieved this milestone for any Bundesliga side—Youssoufa Moukoko of Borussia Dortmund, who pulled it off during a 3-1 victory against Freiburg in August 2022.
Michael Olise was also pivotal in the victory, netting two goals and assisting three more.
Bayern, who would still have topped the league even with a defeat, equalled their record of 43 consecutive rounds at the top, a streak that has stood for 52 years. They are set to surpass this mark, irrespective of the outcome in their upcoming match against St. Pauli, following their away game against Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Kompany commented, "Any record that has endured for this long reflects a remarkable achievement. However, we don’t concentrate heavily on records.
"I believe we've built confidence and at least sharpened our mental focus from this match, especially regarding aspects that didn’t go as planned."
Freiburg took advantage of Bayern's slow start, with goals from Yuito Suzuki and Johan Manzambi from corners within the first 18 minutes, marking the first instance this season that Bayern fell behind at home.
Karl responded swiftly, finding the net just four minutes later after skillfully controlling Olise's pass and finishing with his right foot. He then assisted Olise, levelling the score before halftime.
The tenacious Karl could have scored again in the second half, but a goal he netted was disallowed after a VAR review deemed there was an offside in the buildup.
Dayot Upamecano netted with a header from Olise's corner, and Harry Kane added to his league-leading goal tally shortly thereafter.
Karl exited the match to thunderous applause in the 71st minute after suffering a hip injury, leaving Olise to assist substitute Nicolas Jackson for the fifth goal in the 78th minute. Olise rounded off the scoring in the 84th with a setup from Hiroki Ito, who was making his season debut.
Bayern's upcoming match presents one of their most challenging obstacles of the season, as they prepare to compete against Arsenal, one of only two teams still boasting a perfect record from four Champions League matches thus far.
"Our next match is another home fixture in the Bundesliga, and sandwiched in between is our Champions League encounter with Arsenal," Kompany remarked. "We have placed ourselves in a solid position to approach this game to continue to evolve and enhance our performance."
When inquired about Bayern's preparedness for this tough matchup, the former Manchester City captain responded, "Perhaps now more than ever. At least, that’s what I hope. "
MATTHAUS WARNS KOMPANY: DO NOT CHANGE ATTACKING STYLE DESPITE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE EXIT
Bayern have secured the Bundesliga! Read why Matthaus wants more "spectacular football" despite the 6-5 aggregate loss to PSG.
Lothar Matthaus has called on Vincent Kompany to continue with his attacking style, despite Bayern Munich's exit from the Champions League at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain. The German legend feels Bayern’s entertaining approach shouldn’t be altered even though their defence showed vulnerabilities during the 6-5 aggregate loss in the semi-finals.
After conceding six goals over two legs, Bayern’s Champions League run came to an end. While the defeat exposed defensive issues, it also highlighted the offensive strategy Kompany has brought to the team. These defensive struggles aren’t limited to Europe either; high-scoring Bundesliga matches, like the 4-3 win over Mainz and the 3-3 draw with Heidenheim, have revealed a back line that’s still trying to find the right balance between taking risks and maintaining solidity.
Matthaus, who once captained Bayern, stresses that the club should stick with Kompany’s attacking mindset, even if it leaves them open at the back. He pointed out, “With such an attacking style of play, you can't defend everything, of course. Yes, they've conceded quite a few goals, but they’re still having a successful season and are close to winning the double. They’ve even made it to the Champions League semi-finals.”
The return of excitement at the Allianz Arena was clear, especially during the second leg when Ousmane Dembele’s early goal stunned the crowd. Although Harry Kane’s late equaliser wasn’t enough to turn the tie around, Matthaus sees positives in the bigger picture. He believes Bayern has brought back the thrill and flair fans expect.
“While Bayern didn’t play their best in the semi-final second leg against PSG, they have entertained throughout the year. I look forward to their matches because they’re usually packed with goals. Bayern stands for spectacular football, and this season has been no different. I wouldn’t move away from that style,” Matthaus shared.
With the focus shifting back to domestic competitions, Bayern have already secured the Bundesliga championship. They still have two league games left against Wolfsburg and Koln before preparing for the DFB-Pokal final against Stuttgart on May 23.
BAYERN MUNICH RULE OUT MARCUS RASHFORD MOVE REGARDLESS OF ANTHONY GORDON OUTCOME
Marcus Rashford is not a target for Bayern Munich this summer, as the club focuses entirely on signing Gordon from Newcastle.
Bayern Munich aren’t considering a move for Marcus Rashford this summer, no matter what happens with Anthony Gordon. That’s according to a German reporter who’s close to the story.
Right now, Rashford is wrapping up his loan at Barcelona. He’s set to return to Manchester United at the end of the season. Barcelona have an option to make the deal permanent for €30 million (£26 million) in the summer. Both Rashford and Barcelona want him to stay, but here’s the catch: the club doesn’t want to pay the full €30 million.
Barcelona would rather keep Rashford on loan for another year or get him for a lower fee. Manchester United’s not having it. They want the full price, so Barcelona are starting to look at other players.
Rashford hasn’t made a secret of where he wants to be. Earlier in the season, he told Sport, one of the local Barcelona papers, about how much he wants to stay, saying, “Of course, what I want is to stay at Barca. It’s the ultimate goal.” He talked about the pressure and expectations at the club, saying they keep him motivated and that he feels like he’s in the perfect environment to grow and win trophies. For now, though, it’s all up in the air until next summer.
Last year, Bayern Munich actually showed some interest in Rashford before he went to Barcelona. But now, they’re focused on signing Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United for the left wing. The problem is, Gordon’s interested, but Newcastle’s price is ridiculous, reportedly around £80 million (€92.6 million). That’s much higher than what Bayern’s willing to pay. They’re thinking closer to £60 million (€69.4 million), and maybe with add-ons or an instalment plan. If Newcastle won’t budge, it probably isn’t happening.
Christian Falk, a trusted journalist from Bild, says Bayern aren’t considering Rashford as a backup if they can’t land Gordon. Bayern’s got a short list of players for the left wing, and Rashford isn’t on it. Gordon’s their main focus, but even if that deal falls through, Rashford’s not the next in line.
So at this stage, Bayern and Rashford won’t be coming together this summer, even if Gordon stays at Newcastle. That’s just not in the plans.
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