The 2024/25 season saw the introduction of the brand new Champions League group stages. Gone were the four team groups and double matchups against every team, in was the singular, giant league table in which every qualified team played 8 matches and hoped to finish in the qualifying spots. Last season saw every team’s final match day held at the same time, which resulted in massive updates on the live table. It was the excitement of this final day that Bayern Munich president, Herbert Hainer, spoke
about in an interview with Tz. Ahead of the first UCL matchday of the 2025/26 season, Hainer was asked about the UCL season and the new format:
“I’m very much looking forward to it, also because the new format is very exciting. Just remember the last matchday of the group stage [last season], how the table went up and down,” Hainer explained, as captured by @iMiaSanMia. “Thanks to this reform, we’re already seeing more games between Europe’s top teams in the league phase than before, Last season, for example, we had to face the eventual Champions League winners PSG early on – we were the only team to beat PSG in the competition at the time.”
That last sentence is unfortunately not true, with Arsenal FC and Atlético Madrid overcoming the Qatari giants before the Bavarians did so, too. Still, while Bayern could not claim to be the first to beat the eventual European champions that season, Bayern could lay claim to being the first to beat the Club World Cup champions- for however much that counts- this season when they faced the Blues on Wednesday.
Bayern Munich is entering a rugged part of its schedule and the bizz surrounding the team should spike in the coming days. Let’s talk about where everything stands after a great weekend in the Bundesliga and ahead of key match against Chelsea in the Champions League:
- It was a good weekend for Bayern Munich as the Bavarians dominated Hamburger SV. What good can we take out of that ahead of a very important showdown against Chelsea in the Champions League.
- Thomas Müller dropped a hat trick on the Philadelphia Union…on his birthday. Let’s discuss…
- Should fans be concerned about all of the noise surrounding Michael Olise? With Liverpool and Manchester City (plus maybe Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona, too) all reportedly interested, things look a little dicey.
Also, be sure to stay tuned to Bavarian Podcast Works for all of your up to date coverage on Bayern Munich and Germany. Check us out on Patreon and follow us on Twitter @BavarianFBWorks, @BavarianPodcast @TheBarrelBlog, @BFWCyler, @2012nonexistent, @TommyAdams71 and more.
