Bayern Munich’s Dominance: A Testament to Excellence in German Football

Hans-Joachim Watzke’s statements deserve attention, as he stands out as the only executive who has effectively challenged Bayern Munich’s supremacy in German football over the past two decades. Appointed as the CEO of Borussia Dortmund in 2005, Watzke successfully navigated the club through a dire financial crisis and brought in the relatively untested Jürgen Klopp in 2008. Under his leadership, Dortmund secured two Bundesliga titles and reached the Champions League final. Earlier this year, Watzke transitioned from his role at Dortmund to become a director at the DFB.

At 66 years old, Watzke’s enthusiastic remarks about Bayern Munich reflect the remarkable form the club is currently exhibiting. Vincent Kompany’s team has emerged as a formidable contender in this season’s Champions League, decisively defeating the reigning champions at Parc des Princes. Luis Diaz’s two goals and his subsequent red card highlighted an electrifying first half in which the 34-time German champions outclassed a PSG squad often regarded as the world’s elite.

Setting aside any lingering rivalry, Watzke appreciates Bayern’s stellar performance, viewing it as beneficial for the Bundesliga on an international scale, though he still hopes for increased domestic competition.

In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports Deutschland, Watzke shared his reaction to the match, describing it as “a mixture of admiration and excitement.” He noted, “The first half showcased some of the best football I’ve witnessed in years. Naturally, a single mistake can change the course of the game. In the end, it became somewhat tense. Winning in Paris was an achievement we accomplished with Dortmund two years ago, but Bayern’s convincing victory, particularly in the first half, was a display of truly exceptional football.

“We should take pride in the fact that a club like Bayern Munich represents the Bundesliga so impressively on the international stage. However, domestically, it would be preferable to introduce a bit more excitement into the league. Competing against this current Bayern team, given their performance, presents a significant challenge.”

Bayern’s dominance is evident as they have outperformed every opponent, establishing a remarkable 16-game winning streak at the season’s onset—a record among Europe’s top five leagues. In their nine Bundesliga matches, they have conceded only four goals while netting 33, yielding a remarkable goal difference of +29, a record for any Bundesliga team after the first nine games of a new season. They are just the second team to win their first nine matches, matching the achievement of Bayern under Pep Guardiola in the 2015/16 season.

This dominance extends to international competitions, where Bayern leads the Champions League with 14 goals after four matchdays and boasts an impressive expected goals (xG) total of 46.3 across all competitions.

Harry Kane has been pivotal to Bayern’s success, having scored 22 goals and participated in all 16 competitive fixtures this season. The relatively weaker performance of Bayern’s domestic competitors, including Watzke’s former club, BVB, has led many analysts to anticipate the Bundesliga title returning to Munich at the season’s conclusion.

Kane and his teammates’ season will be ultimately judged by their accomplishments in the Champions League. Their upcoming fixture will see them face Arsenal, the current Premier League leaders and another top European contender, promising a thrilling contest between two of the continent’s most formidable teams at the outset of the 2025/26 season.

Prior to this clash, Bayern will travel to Berlin to face a resilient Union Berlin side, followed by a matchup against the consistently high-performing SC Freiburg in Munich post-international break.