Back on the pitch: FC Bayern step up Mainz preparation

Servus 2020! With a training session lasting around 70 minutes, the FC Bayern players finally brought the curtain down on an outstanding footballing year on Thursday. A few hours ahead of the New Year, head coach Hansi Flick brought his players together at Säbener Straße where, after a virtual training session on Tuesday and a first practice session on the pitch the following day, the team continued their preparation for the first match after the mini winter break next Sunday against 1. FSV Mainz 05.

Short break "was very good for us"

"The break was very good for us," said Manuel Neuer after the final session of the year. Thomas Müller noted that even during the short Christmas holiday, the team continued to "train diligently". "I do hope we were able to work a bit on the basics again and I think, from what we've been able to see in the first few days of training, it's worked out well. But of course we have to show it in the match as well."

Gearing up for the second half of the season

Unlike in previous years, when the team were able to prepare for the second half of the season after the New Year at the training camp in Doha, play resumes on 3 January with the match against Mainz. The short Christmas break was all the more important to get geared up for the resumption of the season. "Of course, all the teams have a huge burden this year and that's why everyone has an equal chance. And of course we aim to have the upper hand again this season," Müller continued.

Busy fixture list from the word go

As football gets underway in 2021, last season's treble winners are already facing a busy fixture list. After the match against Mainz, the Reds are away to Borussia Mönchengladbach next Friday (8 January). Five days later, the defending champions will play the 2nd round proper of the DFB Cup at Bundesliga 2 leaders Holstein Kiel.

The Bundesliga resumes this weekend - and we can hardly wait: