FREEZING OUT: RAPHAëL GUERREIRO EYES BENFICA ESCAPE FROM BAYERN BENCH
Despite scoring vs. St. Pauli, Raphaël Guerreiro is unhappy with his limited starts under Kompany. Benfica, led by Mourinho, are keen to sign the Portuguese international and fan favourite in January.
Raphaël Guerreiro was key in Bayern Munich's 3-1 victory over St. Pauli at the Allianz Arena this weekend. He kicked off Bayern’s scoring, which helped them to come back and win. Manager Vincent Kompany switched up the starting lineup a bit from the 3-1 Champions League loss to Arsenal, and Guerreiro was one of the changes.
So far this season, the Portuguese player, who can play left back or winger, has played in 13 games across all competitions, starting only five times. In the league, the St. Pauli game was just his second start. His other starts were in the Champions League against Pafos FC and Club Brugge, and in the DFB-Pokal first round against Wehen Wiesbaden. Even with Alphonso Davies and Hiroki Ito out (though Ito is back now), it seems Kompany prefers Tom Bischof at left back over Guerreiro.
Not too surprisingly, there’s talk that Guerreiro might leave Bayern as early as this winter. A BOLA, a Portuguese source, says Benfica is very interested in signing Guerreiro in January. Manager José Mourinho likes that he’s played at a high level in the Bundesliga, Champions League, and for the Portuguese national team.
Guerreiro has said before that he's a big Benfica fan. Moving there would likely mean he gets to play more often, especially with Ito back for Bayern and Davies getting closer to returning. When Davies is back, Guerreiro would be up against Davies, Bischof, Ito, and even Josip Stanišić, who’s played left back before, for playing time.
Even though Guerreiro doesn't start often for Kompany, Bayern appreciates him a lot. He’s proven he can step up when needed. But that might not stop him from wanting to leave, either this winter or next summer. His contract with Bayern lasts until June 2026, so he could also leave as a free agent if Bayern decides not to extend his contract.
BAYERN MUNICH HELD: VUSKOVIC AND VIEIRA STUN KOMPANY IN A WILD 2-2 HAMBURG DRAW
Luka Vuskovic and Fabio Vieira shine as Hamburg hold Bayern Munich to a 2-2 draw. Read the full Bundesliga match analysis here.
Bayern Munich dropped points again in the Bundesliga, settling for a 2-2 draw against Hamburg up north. Harry Kane and Luis Diaz both found the net for Bayern, who took the lead after Fabio Vieira had put Hamburg ahead with a first-half penalty. But Luka Vuskovic, who was everywhere for the hosts, powered in a header to snatch a well-earned point in a wild game at Volksparkstadion.
Early on, Bayern tried to quiet down the home crowd and pushed hard for the first goal. Still, it was Hamburg who struck first. About 30 minutes in, Nicolai Remberg beat Joshua Kimmich to a loose ball and drew a foul from the German midfielder. Fabio Vieira, on loan from Arsenal, coolly slotted the penalty past Manuel Neuer and into the bottom corner.
Bayern didn’t waste much time. Within ten minutes, Serge Gnabry slipped behind the defence and whipped in a cross. Kimmich’s awkward shot landed at Kane’s feet, and the England captain smashed it home. Kompany threw on Luis Diaz at halftime, and it paid off instantly. Diaz finished off a slick pass from Olise less than a minute after coming on.
Hamburg weren't rattled, though. Just eight minutes into the second half, Vuskovic muscled past Alphonso Davies and hammered in a header from William Mikelbrencis’ cross. Hamburg almost took the lead when Neuer fluffed a clearance, leaving Vieira with an open goal, but Davies raced back to clear it off the line. Bayern pushed for a winner and shouted for a couple of penalties, but the referee wasn’t having it. In the end, both sides walked away with a point.
Standout player? Luka Vuskovic, no question. The Croatian centre-back, on loan from Tottenham, gave Hamburg steel at the back and kept Kane pretty quiet. His equaliser—already his fourth of the season—showed a hunger and skill Spurs have been missing lately.
On the flip side, Vincent Kompany has to take some heat. The Bayern boss did well bringing on Diaz, but you wonder if starting him would’ve made the difference. Bayern had the lead but couldn’t finish the job, and Hamburg deserved their share of the spoils.
HARRY KANE REVEALS HIS "FAVORITE GERMAN DISH" IS ACTUALLY A REWARD FOR SCORING
It’s a ritual! Harry Kane reveals how local chef Stefan Kastner delivers free veal schnitzels for every goal he scores for Bayern.
Every time Harry Kane scores for Bayern Munich, he gets a free dinner—no joke. There’s this local pub owner who drops off a schnitzel for every goal Kane bangs in for the German champs.
The man behind this tradition? Stefan Kastner, chef and superfan, runs the Buchenhain Forest Inn. He doesn’t just send the food—he actually drives out himself to Kane’s place and hands it over. Kastner’s from Baierbrunn, a suburb just outside Munich, and he swears his schnitzels give Kane that extra push on the pitch.
Kane, by the way, calls these deliveries a “ritual”. He even lets Kastner—everyone calls him the “Schnitzel Guy”—swing by past security whenever he’s due for a drop-off. With the way Kane’s scoring, that’s happening a lot.
Funny thing, though—Kane’s strict about his diet. No chips, ever. Kastner says, “At first, I just did it as a fan. Now, it’s a real tradition. I’ve been at this for over a year, and I’d say we’re up to 50 or 60 schnitzels so far. I don’t deliver one after every single goal. I wait until he’s scored a couple, then I drive over, usually around six in the evening. Lately, I wait for two goals before making the trip. Then I bring a veal schnitzel with roasted potatoes, plus another with potato salad.”
When the local paper TZ ran the story, Kane owned up—he loves schnitzels. “It’s turned into a ritual. It’s lovely. Honestly, it’s probably my favourite dish in Germany. Some people say it’s Austrian or Bavarian, but either way, it’s my top pick since moving here.”
He’s quick to admit he doesn’t eat every single one. “They get delivered, and my family or whoever’s at the house digs in. It helps us feel like we’re part of the community,” he says.
“And really, this was Stefan’s idea. I doubt he thought I’d score this many goals. But, yeah, it’s just a good story. It feels right.”