Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich back in familiar territory
With Saturday's 2-1 victory against Freiburg, the record Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich added to their perfect top-flight start to 2025.
For the first time in seven years, the Bavarian giants managed to win their first four games at the turn of the year. What's more, with defending champions Bayer Leverkusen drawing away to RB Leipzig, Vincent Kompany's Bundesliga leaders are now six points ahead of the second-placed Werkself in the standings.
Bayern's Bundesliga run in 2025 now reads: four games, four wins. The last time the club managed that sequence at the beginning of a New Year was back in 2018 under coach Jupp Heynckes. Despite the fact that the weekend's victory was at times a nervy one and lacked the Munich team's usual attacking fireworks, Bayern ultimately did enough, remaining calm and collected as they held out for maximum points.
"We've certainly played better games," Joshua Kimmich said after his side's victory. "But that's exactly what it takes sometimes. We completely deserved to win."
Watch: Bayern emerge victorious from the Black Forest
Along with the win, Bayern further extended their outstanding run against Freiburg. The men in red have now been unbeaten against the side from Breisgau in 18 Bundesliga games, winning 14 and drawing four.
After Saturday's contest, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer celebrated his 350th Bundesliga victory (in his 516th game), a milestone only teammate Thomas Müller had previously achieved in Bundesliga history.
Over in Saxony on Saturday, Leipzig's comeback against Leverkusen had added importance for Bayern. That 2-2 draw, combined with Bayern's success mean Vincent Kompany's men are now six-points ahead of second place in the table - the joint-biggest lead at the top so far in this 2024/25 season.
Watch: Kane thrilled with Eric Dier assist
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Harry Kane opening the scoring at the Europa-Park Stadion saw England's record goalscorer net his 53rd Bundesliga goal in what was his 49th game in Germany's top division. The 31-year-old thus broke Erling Haaland's previous record start of 53 goals in his first 53 games in the Bundesliga.
Indeed, Kane's strike against Freiburg will also be remembered for the fact that it was assisted by Eric Dier, meaning the the Bundesliga had its first all-England assist and scoring combination. "I'm not quite sure what he was doing in that position in the first place," Kane joked of Dier's advanced position to tee up the opener.
"Me and Eric are really good friends (and) it's good to see him on the pitch; he's not played a lot this season but whenever he's come in he's done really well," the Bayern forward continued. "Again today (Eric) was rock solid. I'm delighted for him that he picked up an assist and it was nice that it fell to me."
Bayern conclude their UEFA Champions League league phase against Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday before returning to Bundesliga action against Holstein Kiel next weekend.
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