Bayern ready to kick off season in Ulm

The wait is finally over as the 2024/25 begins on Friday night with Bayern’s trip to Ulm in the first round of the DFB Cup (kick-off at 8.45pm CEST, live coverage on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app with our live text and free web radio). Here’s all you need to know about the tie against the Bundesliga 2 newcomers in our preview.

Check out the best photos from final training on Thursday:

State of play

It’s been five weeks since Bayern returned for pre-season, featuring intense training sessions and five friendly matches – resulting in four wins – in which new head coach Vincent Kompany has gone about implementing his active and attacking approach. Although several players were only able to join the fold later due to their participation at the Euros, Copa America or Olympics, board member for sport Max Eberl believes the team are all set to kick off the campaign: “There’s a new impact and new energy, and now we’re looking forward to getting going and showing how good we are in competitive matches.” Kompany is also excited ahead of this knockout tie in Ulm: “I’m ready. It’s important we’ve now got a competitive fixture again. Friendlies are always good for fitness, but now we can really get going.”

Read more from Kompany and Eberl, as well as new signing Michael Olise, from their press conference on Thursday:

Opponent: Ulm

Ulm come into the season riding a wave of success that has seen them secure back-to-back promotions from the fourth tier up to Bundesliga 2. The Sparrows claimed the 3. Liga title in convincing fashion by 10 points last season under former FC Bayern Women coach Thomas Wörle. However, Ulm have lost their opening two fixtures of the new league campaign, being beaten 2-1 at home by Kaiserslautern before a 1-0 defeat at fellow promoted side Regensburg last weekend. “They’ve been very dominant and active in recent years, but it always remains our goal to perform to our best. It’s also important that we gain a good feeling for the season,” Kompany said in the build-up.

Read up on the stats ahead of the game:

Team news

Bayern begin their cup campaign without the injured Leroy Sane (groin), Hiroki Ito (metatarsal), Daniel Peretz, Arijon Ibrahimovic (muscular) and Tarek Buchmann (fitness training). Kompany refused to reveal to what extent the players who returned in the middle of pre-season will feature.

Ulm are without goalkeeper Niclas Thiede and forward Laurin Ulrich. Central defender Tom Gaal is also likely to miss out.

What the coaches say