- Bayern want to become club world champions for the second time
- 2019/20: an incredible season
- Five titles in six months
Bayern Munich’s 2019/20 season was one of records. In addition to its exploits and statistics to dominate the 56th edition of the Bundesliga, the Bavarian club also achieved the treble, the second since 2013. In addition to the championship, the German Cup and the Champions League of UEFA, Hansi Flick’s men have won two other titles, the German Super Cup and the European Super Cup.
This quintuplet could soon become a sextuplet with the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup Qatar™, which will kick off in early February. Back on an extraordinary year for the most successful club in Germany.
The coach
The first key moment of the season is the appointment of Hans-Dieter Flick as manager. Aged 55, the one who has long been presented as an eternal assistant succeeds Niko Kovac the day after a heavy defeat (5-1) on the ground of Eintracht Frankfurt.
The championship
Seven months later, Bayern are crowned German champions for the eighth consecutive year. Everything is resolved on the 32nd day, on the occasion of a victory obtained on the ground of Werder Bremen.
Since taking charge, Flick has won 88% of his Bundesliga matches (21 out of 24), which is the best average in the history of the competition.
For his part, Robert Lewandowski won for the fifth time (in the last seven editions) the title of top scorer, with 34 goals. Only one player has exercised a more complete domination on this individual classification: Gerd Müller (with seven titles).
The cup
Bayern expanded their collection a few weeks later, winning the German Cup final ahead of Bayer Leverkusen (4-2). The Bavarians sign in passing their 20th success in this competition. David Alaba gave Bayern the advantage with a direct free kick (16 ‘), before Serge Gnabry doubled the lead eight minutes later. Lewandowski widened the gap further by taking advantage of a clearance from Manuel Neuer (59 ‘) then scored his second goal of the game in the 89th minute, bringing the score to 4-1. Earlier, Sven Bender returned hope to Werkself by taking a corner from the head (63 ‘), but the final goal of the game, signed Kai Havertz (94’ from the penalty spot) will not affect the final result.
UEFA Champions League
With 11 wins in 11 matches (43 goals for, 8 against), Bayern’s triumph does not suffer from any dispute. No team has ever experienced such a winning streak. During the final phase in Lisbon, the Germans largely dominate FC Barcelona 8-2 in the semi-finals. Opposed to Paris Saint-Germain in the decisive match, they keep their cool and win on the smallest of margins.
On August 23, 2020, Kingsley Coman, taking advantage of a good job from Joshua Kimmich, scored the only goal of the game, in the 59th minute. At the other end of the pitch, Manuel Neuer multiplies decisive interventions to offer his team the sixth continental title in its rich history.
“At this level, it’s unfair competition. Manuel is at the top of his game. He really brought an additional dimension to the post of goalkeeper”, comments Thomas Tuchel, the Parisian coach, at the end of the part. Against PSG, Bayern Munich signs its 21st consecutive success.
German Supercup
After a reduced summer truce, Flick and his players continue their harvest. This time, they pocketed the eighth German Supercup in club history, after a narrow 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund, their runner-up in the league. Corentin Tolisso opens the scoring in favor of the premises in an empty stadium. Thomas Müller joined him on the scoreboard in the 32nd minute, but Julian Brandt closed the gap seven minutes later. Back from the locker room, striker Erling Haaland tied the two teams (55 ‘), but Bayern is decidedly untouchable this year: as the game ends, Kimmich offers the defending champions another victory (82’ ).
European Supercup
After an intense fight, Bayern Munich, winner of the UEFA Champions League, defeated Sevilla FC, winner of the UEFA Europa League. The meeting is indecisive since the Germans must go through the extension before taking a decisive advantage. After 120 minutes of a hard fight, the European champions win 2-1. The winning goal is to be credited to substitute Javi Martinez in the 104th minute.
“Every time I put on the Bayern shirt, I try to give my all, to play 100%. I think I showed that today. I am in the service of the team, for example by scoring. live my dream, ”says the Spaniard after the game. Lucas Ocampos opened the scoring from the penalty spot (12 ‘) for Sevilla, before Leon Goretzka tied the two teams up before the break (34’).
Astonishing fact: in 2013, Martinez had already scored the winning goal (2-1) against Chelsea in the European Supercup, during extra time.
The Best
Bayern Munich also dominated the men’s section of The Best FIFA Football Awards ™ Robert Lewandowski and Manuel Neuer won the FIFA Player and FIFA Goalkeeper titles respectively, following their team’s five-fold increase. For his part, Flick finished in the top three in the FIFA Men’s Football Coach election.
Finally, Lewandowski, Thiago Alcantara (now at Liverpool), Alphonso Davies and Kimmich all feature in the FIFA FIFPRO World11 masculine.
FIFA Club World Cup
The FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020 ™ will take place from February 1-11, 2021 in Doha. Seven years after their first world title, Bayern Munich are aiming for a new title. Since the creation of the event in 2000, the European clubs have won 12 times, against four victories for the South American representatives. Which confederation will win the final edition of the tournament in its current form?
The final will take place on February 11 at Education City Stadium. The full competition schedule is available here. The draw for the various posters is scheduled for January 19, 2021 at 4 p.m. (MEZ) in Zurich.
