Bayern Munich swept aside Atalanta in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, but it came at a cost. Alphonso Davies, Jamal Musiala, and Jonas Urbig all had to walk off the pitch with injuries, and a last minute conceded goal gives the night a bittersweet taste for the German giants.
This was perhaps the best FC Bayern performance we’ve seen in 2026. Shame it came with so many sacrifices.
Jersey Swap: Nobody
Atalanta were utterly abject, unable to match the Bavarians in any area on the pitch. None of the players
stood out, not even their goalkeeper — and keepers tend to have a field day against FC Bayern. Their 4-4-2 formation was the likely culprit, as it allowed Vincent Kompany’s men to establish midfield supremacy early in the game and dominate the proceedings.
At best, you could give shout outs to midfielder Kamaldeen Sulemana and right-back Davide Zappacosta, who did cause Konrad Laimer some trouble on the left hand side. Mario Pašalić did score, but was otherwise anonymous. Apart from that, it was a night to forget for the Italians.
Der Kaiser: Dayot Upamecano
Jonathan Tah was excellent, but Dayot Upamecano was on another level. The Frenchman played a complete game, aggressively coming off of his line to close down Atalanta forwards whenever they got the ball, while also charging across the pitch to join the attack when he had the ball.
He ended the night with an assist to Michael Olise and one crossbar hit that really should have been a goal, since he was wide open. On his day, Dayot Upamecano is unplayable, the best defender in the world. This is the type of performance that shows why Bayern Munich went so far to extend his contract.
Fußballgott: Serge Gnabry
An attacking midfielder and a defensive midfielder are both midfielders, right? Well, Serge Gnabry played both positions, and his role was key to the carnage we saw on the night. It was basically the Harry Kane role — Gnabry would drop deep to receive the ball from the defense, then pass it or carry it up the pitch until it reached the danger men, Luis Díaz and Olise.
His presence as an extra man enabled Vincent Kompany to outnumber Palldino’s two-man midfield, allowing Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlović free reign to cause havoc in the area in front of the Atalanta box. Dominating the midfield was the catalyst to victory, and Serge Gnabry is the guy who made it happen. His two-way performance would put even career midfielders to shame.
That is not to say he neglected his duties in attack. Gnabry was an active threat in his position, timing his runs perfectly to intercept passes initiated by Olise or Díaz. He was in the box when he needed to be, and earned a goal and an assist for his trouble (while also hitting the crossbar). One of the best all-round midfield performances we have seen this season, and it did not even come from a career midfielder.
Der Bomber: Nicolas Jackson
Nicolas Jackson remains a frustrating figure for the fanbase, and this performance will do little to dispel doubts. On the one hand, Bayern Munich crushed Atalanta into a fine powder without even needing Harry Kane. On the other hand, Jackson did demonstrate his limitations as a forward in the current system.
Jackson is no Harry Kane. He edges the Englishman in athleticism, but lags behind everywhere else. His holdup play, linkup play, and shooting are all below the level Bayern fans are used to. Despite this, his goal felt like an inevitability. In the system Kompany has created, a player like Jackson can still come in for Harry Kane and manage a goal and an assist.
Jackson is no Kane, but he doesn’t need to be. Of course, everyone would prefer it if he were a bit more clinical, a bit more involved in the attack; but in the end, his job is to be an understudy for Kane, and he’s getting it done. That’s all the coach can ask for.
Meister of the Match: Michael Olise
There is nothing that can be said about Michael Olise that hasn’t already been said already. So instead of talking about Michael Olise, let’s talk about Arjen Robben.
When Arjen Robben played for Bayern Munich, there was a sense of inevitability about him. When he got the ball, teams knew that he would cut inside. Teams knew that he would shoot with his left foot. Did it matter? Not one bit. Robben scored again and again and again. He made opposition defenses look helpless, turned all carefully laid plans to dust. No one could stop Robben even though they knew exactly what he’d do. That takes superlative talent. An otherworldly level of skill.
When you watch Michael Olise, you get the same creeping feeling of inevitability. The sense that, no matter what the opponent does, he will find a way to score/assist. Bayern Munich fans will forever remember Arjen Robben fondly, but — for the first time in years — they can say they don’t miss him.
Because Michael Olise has filled that gap. He is the Arjen Robben successor.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
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