Bayern Munich made it all the way to the Champions League semi-finals last season, being edged out by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain. As one of the most feared forces in world football, they start every campaign expected to lift the iconic trophy, something they haven’t done since 2020. And while they’re ever so slightly off the pace in this year’s competition, finishing in the top eight in the initial group phase looks on.
Trailing By A Point At The Halfway Stage
At the halfway stage of the initial group phase, Bayern sit 13th in the table of 36, but are crucially just one point behind Liverpool, who occupy 8th place. In fact, Bayern, who are on 8 points, are only one adrift of Cesc Fabregas’s Como, who are 4th, so all is certainly not lost, and you’d imagine the German giants feel confident of finishing in the top eight.
After four matches played, Bayern have won two and drawn two, with the draws, one in particular, the reason why they’ve not already established themselves in the top eight. After a 5-0 rout against Bodø/Glimt in their opening fixture, Vincent Kompany’s side drew 3-3 with Viking. They were two goals behind before going 3-2 ahead, only to concede a last-minute equaliser. A respectable draw against last season’s beaten finalists Arsenal followed, before a 2-0 victory away at Atletico Madrid saw them get back on the winning trail.
A Favourable Run To Come
Bayern’s remaining four fixtures of the group stage are: Lille (A), Slavia Prague (H), Manchester United (A) and Real Betis (H). As you would expect, the latest football betting odds have Kompany’s men installed as favourites to win all four fixtures, and if they do, you’d imagine they’d be certainties to finish in the top eight.
At the time of writing, Lille and Slavia Prague are 35th and 34th in the table, having picked up 1 point apiece from a possible 12. Manchester United also trail Bayern, having collected 6 points from 12. Real Betis are a point ahead, but that’s likely to have changed when the sides meet in January. Bayern may have dropped points in two of their four games so far, but it’s not beyond them to win their next four games, taking maximum points.
The Kane Factor
Harry Kane, now a Ballon d’Or winner who has just signed a new long-term deal with Bayern, will continue to be key in the Champions League, and not just for his goals. While the Englishman has scored four in four, he’s also supplied three assists. He was also instrumental in dragging Bayern back into the game away at Viking, scoring twice in six minutes to level the tie.
Bayern are also missing several key players at present, such as Jamal Musiala, Ismael Saibari, Luis Diaz and Serge Gnabry. If they can recover just a couple of these players, who all play in the forward line, they’ll be much stronger across the next four Champions League fixtures.
Conclusion
Bayern Munich’s start to the 2026/27 Champions League campaign hasn’t been perfect. The dropped points against Viking will rankle, but it’s highly unlikely to prove decisive as their destiny is very much in their own hands, and they should cruise through to the next stage by finishing in the top eight.
