Bayern Munich Faces Setbacks Despite Dominance in Bundesliga

Bayern Munich, the reigning champions of German football, currently hold a six-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga table. However, the team’s unbeaten streak in the 2025-26 season came to an unexpected halt when Augsburg secured a surprising 2-1 victory at the Allianz Arena on January 24.

Following this setback, Bayern bounced back in the Champions League with a win against Dutch giants PSV but faced another challenge in the domestic league, settling for a 2-2 draw against Hamburg.

Harry Kane, who scored in Bayern’s latest match, has now netted 36 goals across all competitions this season, bringing his performance into focus. He has been advised to concentrate on his role as a goal scorer rather than engage in defensive duties. Former Bayern manager Felix Magath emphasized this point, stating, “I would always use players according to their strengths. Harry Kane can score goals. Everyone praises him for his work rate, but that’s not his primary responsibility.”

Magath encouraged Kane to remember his core strengths, suggesting that focusing on offensive play rather than contributing defensively would benefit the team: “If he were to run around up front instead of in midfield or at the back, that would be better for the team.”

As Bayern looks to regain their momentum, both the players and coaching staff have acknowledged the need to avoid complacency in their domestic pursuits. Magath noted that the team has fallen short of their earlier dominance, stating, “The Bayern team’s momentum is currently lacking. They were incredibly dominant in the first half of the season, but that has diminished since the winter break.”

He expressed concern over the team’s recent performances, pointing out that complacency can set in when a team is unchallenged at the top, which may lead to difficulties, as evidenced in their match against Hamburg.

Moreover, Magath criticized the players’ public complaints regarding officiating after the draw with Hamburg. Kane voiced his frustrations about the referee’s performance, while teammate Josip Stanisic characterized the officiating as “catastrophic.” Magath responded, stating, “This complaining from the players is unnecessary. Bayern should not complain about the boos they receive in the Bundesliga; these often reflect the fans’ frustration with the team.”

Despite these issues, Magath maintains confidence in Bayern’s ability to secure the title, noting that their domestic rivals, particularly Borussia Dortmund, have not shown the urgency to challenge. As the season progresses, Kane and his teammates will need to step up their game to reestablish their dominance at the top of the Bundesliga standings.

Bayern will face Hoffenheim on Sunday, a team currently in the Champions League qualification spots, followed by a DFB-Pokal quarter-final against RB Leipzig at the Allianz Arena.