Manuel Neuer and Thomas Müller have experienced practically everything together as football professionals. The World Cup triumph with the national team in 2014, the triple seasons with FC Bayern in 2013 and 2020, countless championships and cup victories. Great successes – but also a few painful low points. And that’s why the two Munich football greats are determined to fulfill one (last?) very special appointment – on May 31, 2025.
It is the date on which things should, indeed must, come full circle for the then 39-year-old Neuer, the 35-year-old Müller and their club; 13 years after the unforgettable and so damned 3:4 penalty drama in the Allianz Arena against Chelsea FC on one of the most bitter football evenings in the history of the German record champions.
“We know what this final means”
“There’s something big coming up in the summer, the Champions League final at home. Thomas and I are the only ones who were there against Chelsea twelve years ago,” said Neuer before the start of the new Champions League season on Tuesday (9 p.m./DAZN) against Dinamo Zagreb. The captain added: “We know what this final meant to the city, the fans and us players. We have to do everything we can to get there again.”
Even if the final at home seems like a small light at the end of a long tunnel a good eight months in advance, it is nevertheless omnipresent in Munich. And not just for Neuer and Müller. National player Joshua Kimmich declared direct entry into the round of 16, i.e. a place among the top eight in the new league format with 36 participants, to be the first milestone. But the 29-year-old also admitted: “What could be better than being there for the final in May 2025 in the Allianz Arena, in our own stadium?”
Last time it was 5-0 against Dinamo Zagreb
The biggest goal of the season has been set. And the first step begins exactly where the last is planned – in Munich. The conditions suggest that things will get off to a good start against the Croatian serial champions from Zagreb. In 2015, they beat Dinamo 5-0 at home in the group phase. What’s even more important is that Bayern have got off to a great start with four competitive wins under new coach Vincent Kompany.
The 6-1 win in Kiel was the ideal way to get into the mood for the European tour. “Everyone is looking forward to starting the Champions League,” said Harry Kane, Kiel’s three-goal scorer: “And a home game is the perfect opportunity for that.”
At the time when the group phase was abolished, Bayern were known as start specialists. They won 20 opening games in a row. They have not lost any of the last 40 preliminary round games. They want to build on this series. Kimmich warns: “A win is always important, especially in the opening game.” Especially since this is followed by two challenging away games at Aston Villa (October 2nd) and FC Barcelona (October 23rd) with former coach Hansi Flick.
Other opponents are Benfica Lisbon, Paris Saint-Germain, Shakhtar Donetsk, Feyenoord Rotterdam and Slovan Bratislava. “It feels like every game counts more,” said Kimmich about the new format with eight games against eight different opponents and a uniform table in the preliminary round from place one to 36.
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Veteran Müller will be making his 154th Champions League appearance against Zagreb, Neuer his 143rd – and Kompany his Champions League debut as a coach. The Belgian heard the anthem 51 times as a player. The 38-year-old was pleased in Kiel that he was able to rest important players such as Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry early on for the Zagreb game.
Boey injured again: Kimmich to the right?
“Everyone is looking forward to this game,” said Kompany. He can choose the starting eleven from a large squad, even if he has to change his plans at short notice because Sacha Boey has been injured again (torn meniscus). The solution could be: Kimmich on the right, Aleksandar Pavlovic and João Palhinha in midfield. Sporting director Max Eberl has great confidence in Kompany’s solutions: “At the moment, it’s a well-rounded picture. Vinnie is just doing well.”
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