THE 2031 PLAN: UNEARTHING BAYERN’S LONG-TERM STRATEGY TO LOCK LENNART KARL UNTIL NEXT DECADE
Bayern leads by eight: Read about Lennart Karl’s 2029 extension, Manuel Neuer’s rehab, and Musiala’s plan for Der Klassiker
Bayern Munich grabbed a gritty 3-2 win over Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend, and thanks to RB Leipzig holding Borussia Dortmund to a draw, they’ve stretched their lead at the top to eight points.
That kind of cushion gives Bayern a serious mental edge before they head to Signal Iduna Park for the big showdown. Even with the tough away setting, you can sense the confidence. Head coach Vincent Kompany saw some good signs in training today, which definitely helps.
Team captain Manuel Neuer trained individually under rehab coach Simon Martinello, according to Kerry Hau from Sky Sports. Neuer, now 39, still can’t do jumping or aerial drills yet, but he’s moving well and handling more intense exercises without issue.
He’s working to be fit in time for Saturday’s match. Realistically, Jonas Urbig will probably start since he’s healthier, but Neuer’s influence in the locker room is huge, especially for a game like this.
On the bright side, Konrad Laimer is back training with the team after a minor knock. He missed the Frankfurt match just to manage his workload, but now he’s aiming to start this weekend. With Alphonso Davies out with a muscle injury and Hiroki Ito struggling for form, Laimer’s return matters. He and Josip Stanisic are likely Kompany’s go-to options on the flanks.
Jamal Musiala is looking sharper, too, after his nasty injury at the Club World Cup. He started against Frankfurt, played 78 decent minutes, and then made way for Serge Gnabry. BILD reports that Musiala is doing extra daily sessions designed by specialists and physios, working closely with the club’s medical team. He’s turning 23 soon and should see more minutes in the starting lineup, aiming to hit peak form for the Champions League Round of 16 in mid-March.
Off the pitch, there’s some good news for team morale: Lennart Karl just extended his contract with Bayern until 2029 right after his 18th birthday. Max Eberl and the board are already looking to make that deal even longer and bump up his salary, with a new agreement expected to run through 2031.
Despite rumours linking him to Real Madrid, Karl’s happy at Bayern and feels good about the club’s project. He’s ready to commit long-term, according to Fabrizio Romano.
KOMPANY’S SQUAD MOVES 15 POINTS CLEAR OF DORTMUND WITH FOUR ROUNDS REMAINING
Vincent Kompany wins the league in his first season! Harry Kane scores as Bayern dominate Stuttgart for the title.
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Bayern Munich overturned an early deficit to secure a 4-2 victory against Stuttgart in the Bundesliga on Sunday.
This win marked Bayern’s 35th Bundesliga title, adding another chapter to what has been a remarkable season for them.
Under Vincent Kompany, they started strong with a 6-0 win over RB Leipzig on the opening day and managed to keep that momentum, setting new records along the way.
Just days after a crucial victory over Real Madrid that booked their spot in the Champions League semi-finals, Bayern needed only a point to clinch the league crown, especially after Borussia Dortmund’s loss at Hoffenheim on Saturday.
With the title wrapped up, Kompany can now turn his full attention towards the Champions League and prepare thoroughly for the upcoming two-legged tie against Paris Saint-Germain.
This season, Bayern shattered Bundesliga records by scoring 109 goals and maintaining a near-flawless campaign, losing only once so far.
Stuttgart, aiming for European qualification, put up a fight early on, with Chris Fuhrich curling a brilliant goal in the 21st minute that threatened to spoil Bayern's party.
But Bayern quickly responded. Raphael Guerreiro scored from close range after Jamal Musiala delivered a precise cross, shifting the momentum back.
Not long after, Bayern extended its lead again. Guerreiro intercepted a pass and set up Luis Diaz, who then found Nicolas Jackson with plenty of space. The Chelsea loanee calmly finished to make it 2-1.
Before halftime, Alphonso Davies added a third, cleverly flicking a pass from Luis Diaz past the keeper from inside the box.
After the break, Harry Kane, who replaced Musiala, wasted no time, netting Bayern’s fourth goal in just seven minutes – his 32nd league goal of the campaign.
Michael Olise came close to adding more for Bayern on several occasions, while Chema Andres scored a late consolation for Stuttgart in the 88th minute.
It was a memorable day for Joshua Kimmich, who secured his 10th Bundesliga title and joked about aiming for another 10 with the club.
Bayern Munich player ratings
Urbig 7, Stanisic 7, Kim 7, Itō 7, Davies 8, Kimmich 8, Goretzka 7, Guerreiro 8, Musiala 7, Diaz 9, Jackson 7.
Bayern substitutes: Neuer, Upamecano, Tah, Kane, Olise, Laimer, Ofli, Sapoko Ndiaye, Pavlović.
Match stats between Bayern Munich and Stuttgart showed Bayern dominating possession with 66.2% compared to Stuttgart’s 33.8%. Bayern also outshot their opponents 28 to 11 and had 9 shots on target against Stuttgart’s 7. Total passes reflected their control, with Bayern completing 669 passes to Stuttgart’s 335.
LUIS DIAZ DECLARES BAYERN MOVE "RIGHT DECISION" AFTER SLAYING REAL MADRID
Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher react as Luis Diaz haunts Madrid. Is the €75m star the world's best winger?
Luis Diaz says he has no regrets about leaving Liverpool and feels he made the right call by signing with Bayern Munich last summer.
He landed in Bavaria for €75 million (about $87 million/£66 million), and honestly, he hit the ground running, scoring 23 goals and 18 assists already. He’s even chasing some European silverware after scoring the opener in Bayern’s Champions League quarterfinal first-leg win over Real Madrid on Tuesday.
The Bundesliga title looks just about wrapped up, too; Bayern’s nine points clear at the top, so Diaz will probably add a winners’ medal to his collection.
Everyone’s talking about Vincent Kompany’s team as one of Europe’s best, and with Liverpool struggling this season, it’s easy to see why Diaz feels moving to Germany was the right move.
“Coming to Bayern was absolutely the right decision for me. I’m really happy, and I enjoy every game,” Diaz told ESPN after Bayern’s 2-1 win at the Bernabeu. “I feel strong, and that’s helped me stay available to help the team.”
Diaz’s red-hot form even got Steven Gerrard talking about wanting him back at Anfield, and Jamie Carragher agrees Liverpool misses him.
He might actually play at Anfield again later this month, if both Bayern and Liverpool get through their Champions League quarterfinals. If Real and PSG go out, Bayern and Liverpool face off in the semis.
When asked about Bayern’s showing in Madrid, Diaz said, “We’re happy, but we feel like we could’ve scored another goal or two. We played a great match against a really tough opponent.
“We won the ball, moved it quickly, and executed our game plan. We’d already studied Real Madrid, and everything worked the way we expected.
“We felt comfortable, recovered the ball more, and controlled the match better. That’s exactly how we like to play.”
Diaz and Harry Kane both scored for Bayern, while Kylian Mbappe grabbed a late goal for Real to keep things interesting heading into the second leg.
Back at Liverpool, Diaz scored 41 goals in 148 games and picked up a Premier League title, the FA Cup, and two Carabao Cups. He made 36 appearances in the Reds’ 2024/25 title-winning season, and a lot of people feel Liverpool’s struggles this year are down to losing him.
