Usually fans from everywhere imaginable flock to the Allianz Arena, but once a year the pattern is reversed. On the first Sunday in Advent the FCB pros took their traditional annual tour to visit Bayern fan clubs.

Philipp Lahm was drawn to visit "Insider FCB Plattling." Thomas Müller too was on tour to Lower Bavaria to see "Hauzenberger Bayern-Power." "Bayern Bazis Vilsbiburg" entertained Pep Guardiola. Jan Kirchhoff had the longest journey as he visited "FC Bayern Fanclub Hamburg," 800 kilometres north of Munich. Sven Ulreich left the country to see "Fanclub Rot Weiße Adler Lana" in South Tyrol.

Happy, smiling faces could be seen in club homes, taverns and halls: an audience of 750 came to see Kingsley Coman in Nabburg in the Upper Palatinate. The Reds handed out umpteen autographs, were available for photos and gave and received presents. Children and adults could not wait to fire questions at their idols.

But they were in for challenges too. Guardiola had to prove his proficiency at stein lifting, Xabi Alonso used a hammer and nails. Javi Martínez gazed at a sword swallower. Even Santa Claus could be found here and there. As always, the traditional visits were a roaring success.