Kompany Brushes Off Bayern's Worst Start in Four Years: 'We're Not Far Off Our Best Version'
Kompany Backs Bayern To Find Top Gear Before Leipzig Test
Vincent Kompany has declared that Bayern Munich are "not far off our best version" as the Bundesliga champions prepare to host RB Leipzig at the Allianz Arena on Saturday, even as his side endures an unusually shaky start to the campaign.
Bayern have made their worst start to a Bundesliga season in four years, taking just 11 points from their opening five games (W3 D2). They have already dropped four points this term — as many as they surrendered across the entire first half of the previous campaign (W15 D2) — a run that includes a reported 3-3 draw against Viking in the Champions League by Bayern's own standards.
Kompany's side nevertheless sit third in the early standings, two points and two places clear of their upcoming opponents. The Belgian, however, is under no illusions about the challenge posed by a resurgent Leipzig.
'We Want To Attack, We're Hungry'
"We want to attack. We're playing at home. We're hungry," Kompany said. "We know about Leipzig's strengths. You can see they've made a few changes. It's helped the team. They're coming here with confidence.
"We've had 50 shots on goal over the last two games. We've been doing lots of collective things well. If we do a few things better, then we're not far off our best version. We know we can do it.
"These games often come down to the quality on the pitch. They've got quick wide players and strong attackers. We also have that. "They have defenders who also get involved in attack and a goalkeeper who's good on the ball. We also have that as well. "They're games with a lot of creativity. If things start to go one way, then they can really go that way. Let's see what happens."
Leipzig Arrive On A Roll
Leipzig have won three of their last four games across all competitions, including a 6-0 rout of Eintracht Frankfurt and a 5-0 demolition of Hamburg in the league. That form has propelled them to within touching distance of Bayern in the table.
Players To Watch
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
Harry Kane is set to make his 100th Bundesliga appearance, and his 101 goals are already a record for a player in their first 100 games in the competition. The England captain has provided three assists in his last three Bundesliga matches, including two against Augsburg — as many as he managed in his previous 31 appearances.
Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig)
Christopher Nkunku scored his first Bundesliga hat-trick in his 124th appearance, which was also the first perfect hat-trick by a Leipzig player in the competition. He has already scored three Bundesliga goals away to Bayern; only Dodi Lukebakio and Markus Rosenberg (four each) have scored more Bundesliga goals at the Allianz Arena as a visiting player.
The Numbers Favour Bayern
Bayern boast the best attack in the Bundesliga this season with 16 goals, while Leipzig's 15 represent a new club record after five games of a Bundesliga season. Kompany's side have scored 12 goals in their first two home games of the campaign; only Frankfurt in 1976-77 (13) have ever scored more in their opening two home matches.
Bayern have won each of their last three matches against Leipzig in all competitions, including the DFB-Pokal quarter-final in February this year; they last won four consecutive meetings between April 2021 and July 2022. Leipzig, meanwhile, have lost each of their last four Bundesliga away games — a run only bottom-placed Borussia Monchengladbach currently match in the league.
Leipzig boss Martin Demichelis made 259 appearances for Bayern between 2003 and 2010, winning the domestic double four times. In the last 13 Bundesliga seasons, only two managers have won their first away game against Bayern at the Allianz Arena: Alfred Schreuder with Hoffenheim and Peter Bosz with Bayer Leverkusen, both in autumn 2019.
Prediction And Win Probability
Match prediction: Bayern Munich win.
Opta win probability: Bayern Munich 73.9% | Draw 14.4% | RB Leipzig 11.7%