Bayern Munich’s Dominance: Insights from Hans-Joachim Watzke

Hans-Joachim Watzke’s remarks warrant attention. As the sole executive who has effectively challenged Bayern Munich’s dominance in German football over the last two decades, his insights are valuable. Watzke was appointed CEO of Borussia Dortmund in 2005, where he successfully revitalized a precarious financial situation. In 2008, he brought in the relatively inexperienced Jurgen Klopp, leading to two Bundesliga titles and a Champions League final appearance. Earlier this year, Watzke transitioned from his role at Dortmund to become a director of the DFB.

At 66 years old, Watzke’s praise for Bayern Munich, the club he has long pursued, underscores their exceptional performance. Recent matches have solidified Bayern’s status as a formidable contender in this season’s Champions League, particularly highlighted by their overwhelming victory against Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes. Luis Diaz’s two goals and subsequent red card contributed to a dynamic first-half display that showcased Bayern’s dominance over a team widely regarded as one of the best in the world.

Setting aside any historical rivalry, Watzke recognizes that Bayern’s impressive form benefits the Bundesliga on the international stage, although he expresses a desire for more domestic competition.

In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports Deutschland, Watzke conveyed mixed feelings of admiration and excitement regarding Bayern’s recent performance: “The first half was some of the best football I’ve seen in years. Of course, a single mistake can change the game. While the match ended up being close, Bayern’s convincing win, particularly their dominant first-half display, was remarkable.”

“We should take pride in having a club like Bayern Munich represent the Bundesliga so brilliantly on the global stage. However, it would be beneficial for the league if we could inject some additional excitement. Competing against a Bayern team in such fine form presents a significant challenge.”

Bayern’s impressive streak has seen them prevail against all challengers, recording a record 16 consecutive wins to start a season in Europe’s top five leagues. In their nine Bundesliga matches, they have conceded just four goals while scoring an impressive 33, achieving a goal difference of +29—a record for any Bundesliga team after the first nine games of a season. They are only the second team to win their first nine matches of the season, mirroring a similar feat achieved under Pep Guardiola in the 2015/16 season.

Their supremacy extends to European competition, where they lead the Champions League with 14 goals scored after four match days. Across all competitions, Bayern has generated an impressive 46.3 expected goals (xG).

A key player in their success has been Harry Kane, who has netted 22 goals and participated in all 16 of Bayern’s competitive matches this season.

The perceived weakness of Bayern’s domestic rivals, including Watzke’s former club, BVB, has led many in Germany to anticipate that the Bundesliga title will once again return to the Bavarian capital at the end of the season.

Kane and his teammates will be evaluated based on their Champions League performance, with their next significant match against Premier League leaders and European contenders Arsenal promising to be a monumental clash at the start of the 2025/26 season. Before facing Arsenal, Bayern will visit Union Berlin in the German capital and then host the consistently high-performing SC Freiburg in Munich following the international break.