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The Bayern fans at the Allianz Arena could not believe their eyes when SC Freiburg were two goals up after 17 minutes thanks to Suzuki’s and Manzambi’s goals from set pieces. The away side did everything right at first.
Before the game, the Bayern players wore warm-up shirts with an upside down Telekom T of their main sponsor, a reference to the final season of the US series Stranger Things and its parallel world The Upside Down. It was not only the T that was upside down on this cold afternoon – FC Bayern’s match plan was ruined after Freiburg’s two goals. The stats spoke for themselves after Manzambi found the net: Freiburg boasted three shots and nine ball actions in the box without reply and eight crosses to Bayern’s one. Vincent Kompany’s team had to fight their way out of the unfamiliar situation, and the following 70 minutes would be memorable.
It is unknown how many Bayern players are fans of the series, but in Stranger Things too, a group of close friends around protagonist Eleven fight their way out of bizarre and dangerous situations. After being two goals down, Bayern had to fight to prevent their first defeat this season.
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Olise & Karl – a brilliant duo
He did not succeed in everything in the early stages, but Michael Olise kept demanding the ball in this precarious situation. After 22 minutes, he found some space on the right and teed up Lennart Karl. Munich’s 17-year-old high-flyer sidestepped an opponent with his first touch and clinically finished with his weaker right foot to find the far corner of the net. It was the Germany U21 international’s first goal at the Allianz Arena. His celebration was subdued, he sprinted back: the comeback was on.
The away side sat deep and were solid at the back, looking to strike on the break, but Bayern rose to the challenge in the first match after the international break. For example, Luis Díaz sprinted back to steal the ball in midfield and charged forward on the right straight away. The crowd applauded the Colombian winger for the move.
The play on the wings was key when FC Bayern levelled the scores on the stroke of half-time. This time, it was Karl who cut inside from the right to set up his congenial partner Michael Olise, who finished with his left. Since the start of detailed data recording in 2004/05, no FCB player who scored and set up one goal in one match was younger than Karl (17 years, 273 days). “Everybody knows we’re very, very good in attack. We struggled at first and conceded two goals from set pieces, but we fought back very well. I’m not afraid of my opponents and just stick to my play,” Karl said after the final whistle.
CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen praised the youngster after the match: “It’s a joy to watch Lennart. It’s unusual to have this confidence at this age.” Karl’s buddy Aleksandar Pavlović raved about his colleague: “He’s a very good friend of mine. I’ve never seen a teammate with so much confidence. What he does and how much he loves to play is just extraordinary.”
The sides turned round with the score 2-2. There was fire on the pitch on an icy afternoon at the Allianz Arena. The fightback was going well, with Bayern now enjoying 75 percent possession and taking seven shots to Freiburg’s five.
Upamecano crowns fightback
Freiburg had had the upper hand in the first quarter-hour, but the pattern was different after the restart. FC Bayern returned full of confidence and produced power play. Lennart Karl’s goal (52’) was chalked off for Josip Stanisić’s offside position, but Dayot Upamecano handed Bayern the lead three minutes later when he volleyed home from from Olise’s corner after Jonathan Tah’s strong block.
“The goal was crucial. I’m pleased with my first goal this season. We have a superb coach and a superb team,” commented Upamecano, who has scored all of his nine Bundesliga goals from set pieces (eight corners, one free-kick).
But Kompany’s team didn’t rest on their laurels after deservedly taking the lead. They kept creating chances, with Olise and Karl as the main protagonists. Thanks to their interplay, Harry Kane got hold of the ball via Aleks Pavlović and made it 4-2 (60’). It was the England captain’s 76th goal in his 74th Bundesliga match, faster than any other player.
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Involved in five goals: Olise unstoppable
But Bayern had more salt to rub into the away side’s wounds. Man of the Match Michael Olise crowned his spectacular performance with two more moves. His forensic pass invited sub Nicolas Jackson to score Bayern’s fifth (78’) before he found the far corner of the net with his left to round off the half-dozen (84’). Let these figures sink in: Olise was involved in no less than five goals against Freiburg.
He set up Karl, Upamecano and Jackson and bagged a brace himself to set a personal best. The last Bundesliga player to achieve this feat was Harry Kane, who scored three goals and set up another two against VfL Bochum in September 2023. Boasting six assists, Olise is the Bundesliga’s best provider. Chapeau, Michael, a Hollywood-worthy performance!
“Two players do something special in a difficult phase and we get out of this situation. Then our momentum returns. It’s definitely down to quality, there’s no other way to describe it,” said Kompany, who had to make do without Serge Gnabry and rested Joshua Kimmich. Board member for sport Max Eberl said: “Michael Olise was a symbol for the match. He can work his way into a game even if it doesn’t go so well at first.”
Comeback for Ito
Saturday came with another unforgettable twist. Hiroki Ito, who had broken his metatarsal again in March 2025, made his comeback after 238 days – and what a comeback it was! The 26-year-old defender’s pinpoint pass set up Bayern’s sixth goal against Freiburg. Welcome back, Hiroki!
The Bayern fans in the south stand chanted "Deutscher Meister wird nur der FCB" (Only FCB will be German champions) before the final whistle, with Eberl paying “a huge compliment” to the team: “It isn’t a matter of course to fight back like this after falling two goals behind. It’ll further boost our confidence.” CEO Dreesen said: “We never get nervous. The team showed that today. Arsenal know we’re in good form. We have respect, Arsenal aren’t top of the Premier League for no reason. It’ll surely be a true top match.”
After their rousing comeback in the Bundesliga, Bayern travel to face Arsenal in the Champions League, and the German record champions aim to lay down another marker in Europe’s premier club competition.
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