Now Comes The Game Vincent Kompany's Bayern Munich Can't Lose

22 November 2024, Bavaria, Munich: Soccer, Bundesliga, FC Bayern Munich - FC Augsburg, Matchday 11, ... [+] Allianz Arena, Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany gesticulates and shouts on the sidelines. IMPORTANT NOTE: In accordance with the regulations of the DFL German Football League and the DFB German Football Association, it is prohibited to exploit or have exploited photographs taken in the stadium and/or of the match in the form of sequential images and/or video-like photo series. Photo: Tom Weller/dpa (Photo by Tom Weller/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Weeks after international soccer for clubs like Bayern Munich can often be odd.

Members of the first team squad appear back at the training facilities in drips and drabs, some nursing jet lag from globetrotting flights around the world.

Harry Kane was one of those who'd stay close to Bavaria at this most recent break, shuffling only between London and Athens.

It was of little surprise that the former Tottenham Hotspur star showed little ring rust in Bayern's first fixture back against Augsburg.

A hat-trick against the Swabian side took him to 50 Bundesliga goals in 43 games, making him the fastest player to reach the milestone in the competition's history.

It's an impressive feat, considering the previous record holder was Erling Haaland, who achieved the total in 50 games.

As always, Kane was modest after the game, focusing on the team rather than bathing in personal accolades.

"We knew it would be difficult to break them down. We knew we had to be patient," Kane said to broadcaster DAZN.

"At half-time, that's what we said, 'we just have to keep doing what we're doing'. Thankfully we got the penalty to open the game up and then did well to kill the game off."

Manager Vincent Kompany played against the man himself not too many years ago in the Premier League and, in his analysis of the game, suggested the England forward's performance exemplified the qualities that have made him one of the world's greatest strikers for so long.

"That's what makes it so difficult against Harry Kane: you can defend well against him the whole game, but then eventually the space opens up and he strikes," he said.

"He always knows that when he gets the opportunities, he can score goals."

This season's Bundesliga campaign is already looking far easier for Bayern Munich to navigate than last year.

Bayer Leverkusen has fallen off its heart-stopping form last year, leaving an open field of candidates for the title this time around.

No single side has convinced with contenders like RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt also showing frailties.

So Bayern Munich will undoubtedly wear the favorites tag, given its dominance over the past two decades.

However, despite FC Bayern establishing a points gap with its opponents, only some are banking on it winning the crown yet. This is because the side has so far been a flat-track bully, humiliating lower-ranked teams with high scores but failing to win a single encounter against a top side.

Destroying lesser opponents every week can win a title, but it is unlikely to win Bayern Munich's other obsession: the Champions League.

Given that the new format is a giant table, it's accurate to say Bayern are mediocre at best. They comfortably dispose of relegation fodder and then get beaten when harder tests arise in a field of considerably better teams.

As I've pointed out before, when a difficult set of games showed the limitations of Vincent Kompany's outfit, there is a considerable desire from the hierarchy to 'trust the process.'

However, further losses in Europe will begin to make it seem that this Bayern Munich team cannot compete with the best.

It was not a good look to be beaten comprehensively 4-1 by Barcelona and then lose 1-0 to English Premier League side Aston Villa. In both cases, Kompany was quick to focus on the minutia of the games rather than any startling big-picture themes.

"It's a bitter defeat, but the Champions League wasn't decided today. We have to keep going and get back to winning ways," said Kompany after the loss to Villa.

"When it comes to winning or losing, you don't need the context of so many years. Every game has its own story. We had big chances and didn't take them.

"We gave away a moment, and in that moment Villa scored a goal. I'm convinced that we're a team that will score goals more often than not. But today, that's the story of the game."

Munich, Germany - November 22: Michael Olise of Bayern Muenchen and Mads Pedersen of FC Augsburg ... [+] battle for the ball during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and FC Augsburg at Allianz Arena on November 22, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

The fixture computer has given Kompany flurries of challenging games to navigate. Once again, after the victory versus Augsburg, the Bavarians have a tough set of encounters to contend with.

Paris Saint-Germain, Bayer Leverkusen, and Borussia Dortmund will all be played in a matter of days, giving the Belgian coach's men another testing fortnight.

And whilst easier ties in Europe later in the calendar offer the opportunity to rectify the meandering Champions League campaign, Vincent Kompany can't afford to lose against PSG for his reputation.

Defeat in that game, even if tempered with wins against Dortmund and Leverkusen, would send a message across Europe that this is not a team to be feared, regardless of how good it might be in the Bundesliga.

However, that is not how the Bayern leadership sees it, apparently.

"We're satisfied with the season we've played so far in all competitions despite the two defeats in the Champions League," said Bayern sporting director Max Eberl.

"It is a new format, and we're still getting to know it," he added, with Bayern down 17th in the playoff spots.

Although he added rather ominously: "We have PSG, which is a special game, Leverkusen in the Cup and Dortmund in the league. We want to start and win every single game. That is our starting point."