Being a fan of Bayern Munich comes with a certain confidence. You expect big wins, big moments, and usually the last word in Germany. But even with all that success, there’s always that opposing player — the one who makes your blood pressure rise the second you see their name on the team sheet.
And the strange part? It’s not always logical.
Sometimes it’s a rival who showed up in too many painful memories. Maybe it’s someone like Sergio Ramos, whose dramatic Champions League moments seemed permanently
tied to Bayern Munich heartbreak. Other times it’s a Bundesliga rival such as Marco Reus — a brilliant player, by all accounts likable, yet somehow always positioned on the wrong side of your emotions simply because of the badge he wore. And then there are the global superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo, whose greatness is undeniable, but whose decisive performances against Bayern made admiration feel suspiciously close to annoyance.
But the list never really stops there. Some supporters still shudder at the memory of Didier Drogba and that unforgettable 2012 final. Others can’t separate their respect for Karim Benzema from the damage he inflicted in knockout ties. For some, even a midfield artist like Andrés Iniesta brings back memories of nights where control slipped just out of reach.
That’s the beauty — and absurdity — of football fandom. These dislikes rarely come from anything serious. No real hatred, no genuine ill will. Just a collection of moments, narratives, and feelings that build up over years of watching massive matches where emotions run far ahead of reason.
If we are honest, irrational dislike is really just the shadow side of passion. The same energy that makes us love club legends beyond logic also makes certain opponents permanently irritating, no matter how much time passes.
Which opposing player still makes you groan before kickoff — even now?
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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