Three Observations from Bayern Munich’s dominating 5-1 win over FC Köln

Records are made to be broken, but titles are more important

Over the last six seasons, Bayern came shockingly close on four occasions to breaking the 101-goal mark set by the 1971/72 squad. The 2025/26 version obliterated the Bundesliga record and nearly matched Torino’s 125 goals from 1947/48 despite playing six fewer games. Bayern has always fielded high flying offensive firepower, but the main reason for this recent domination has been the inability or unwillingness of other Bundesliga teams to retain top level talent that can slow down the *Rekordmeister.* Ironically, I don’t think this 122-goal season will be broken in our lifetime. More importantly, next year’s team will need to score less goals in order to win the treble. There needs to be more rotation in league games. There needs to be more control in the second half and fewer 50+ meter sprints in either direction. There needs to be more rest days for veterans. Players in their thirties do not need to come close to logging 4,000 minutes over the course of the 10-month season. This includes Harry Kane, Joshua Kimmich, Manuel Neuer, Jonathan Tah, and Luis Díaz. On the flip side, this means more minutes for Tom Bischof, Jonas Urbig, and Cassiano Kiala. Bayern needs to prioritize a better backup plan for Kane and Díaz.

Bayern’s future is ready

Bayern played 10 academy players this season, equaling Schalke’s longstanding record from 1980/81. That is all well and good, but they were mostly debutant appearances that showed their loan potential. I’m talking about Tom Bischof and Lennart Karl. Bischof has risen through Germany’s youth ranks, often serving as the team captain. He freely roams into the proper positions with intelligence and intent. All three of his goals this season have been blasts from outside the box while playing left back. He is only 20 years old, but his leadership qualities are apparent to everyone who meets him. He carries himself with the self-confidence of a seasoned veteran. He is the heir apparent to Joshua Kimmich’s role in the locker room and the midfield. Karl is primed to take the next steps in his development. He started 24 matches but only finished five of them. His sprinter mentality means this will remain the same over the next couple years but that’s just fine. Vincent Kompany has done a solid job managing his minutes and subsequently enabling him to contribute for nearly the entire season. Aleksandar Pavlović has already cemented his spot in the starting XI. Jonas Urbig is lined up to split half the starts with Manuel Neuer next season and take over as the uncontested starter in 2027. If he can stay healthy, Cassiano Kiala is likely to feature in the senior squad in the near future. Bayern’s academy and youth scouting programs have secured Bayern’s future. The future is now.

Bonus Observations

• Said El Mala has a lot of potential but is too reliant on his speed. He often looks lost or confused in possession and does not put enough pressure on the center-backs in the buildup. He needs to move to a midtable club that can help him progress in the mental side of the game while maximizing his physical attributes.
• Konrad Laimer succeeded in his mission to step on the toes of every Köln player that crossed his path.
• Leon Goretzka, Raphaël Guerreiro, and Nicolas Jackson played their last game in the Allianz Arena and Goretzka received the proper send-off for a man who served eight selfless years. *If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…*

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