Bayern visit Freiburg without hospitalized coach Vincent Kompany
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The gist
Bayern Munich face Freiburg in the Bundesliga with coach Vincent Kompany hospitalized and absent.
Bayern lead by one point; Freiburg have not beaten them since 2015.
Background
Bayern Munich are the reigning Bundesliga leaders, top on 14 points after six matchdays, one ahead of Dortmund, Freiburg and Leverkusen. Their head coach Vincent Kompany, the former Manchester City defender, was admitted to hospital on Friday after collapsing because of a serious viral illness, and assistant coach Aaron Danks is overseeing the team temporarily. Freiburg, coached by Julian Schuster, led the table early in the season before Bayern replaced them at the top last weekend. Bayern are also short-handed: Jamal Musiala (thigh), Manuel Neuer (foot) and Joshua Kimmich (bereavement) are out, Aleksandar Pavlović withdrew with a calf problem, and Kim Min-jae and Luis Díaz picked up muscle injuries against Arsenal.
How it unfolded
- Oct 22, 2026Bayern's preview notes they have lost just one of their last 49 Bundesliga matches and are undefeated in 29 away league games, while Freiburg have gone 20 Bundesliga games without beating Bayern.
- Oct 23, 2026Previews note Freiburg lost 3-0 at AS Monaco in the Conference League in midweek; Bayern beat Freiburg 6-0 at home last season but won only 3-2 on their last visit to Europa-Park Stadion.
- Oct 24, 2026Bayern's preview confirms the Matchday 7 game for Sunday at 17:30 CEST at Europa-Park Stadion, with Bayern top on 14 points, one ahead of Dortmund, Freiburg and Leverkusen on 13; Kompany remains under medical care and will not be involved.
- Oct 25, 2026Reports say Kompany was admitted to hospital on Friday after collapsing due to a serious viral illness, with Aaron Danks overseeing the team; Pavlović withdrew late with a calf problem and Díaz is expected out for around six weeks.
- Oct 25, 2026Confirmed lineups for the Matchday 7 meeting are published.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Bayern board member for sport Max Eberl said the good news is Kompany is stable, and that he will stay in hospital a few more days and return only when fit.
- Official
- Assistant coach Aaron Danks said the priority is making sure Kompany is okay, that football operations are in the staff's hands now, and cited the squad's winning mentality and family unit.
- Caution
- Freiburg head coach Julian Schuster said the Monaco loss has focused his team's minds and called the Bayern clash the biggest of the week's three challenges.
Still unverified
Bayern's preview states that so far this season the team entering each matchday as league leaders has never held on to that position, a run Bayern are looking to break in Freiburg.