It’s not been easy for Bayern Munich fans to digest the events of this past week. The Champions League exit against Real Madrid was as dramatic as it was painful.
However, on Sunday evening in the last home game of the season against Wolfsburg at the Allianz Arena, there were several moments to soothe the soul of the Bayern family.
In a true spirit of togetherness, the team and fans celebrated the 2-0 victory, stood together and sang in unison. Several of the first team players' kids were out on the pitch, shot on goal and encapsulated a harmonious end to the season in Bayern's last home game of the 2023/2024 campaign.
It wasn't only the result that contributed to the overall good mood but also the general atmosphere in the stadium, as well as the inclusion of several up-and-coming Bayern prospects. Thomas Tuchel had given the youngsters the opportunity to showcase their skills.
“We gave the team the space to breathe this week”, commented Tuchel. The inclusion of a number of youthful talents additionally contributed to a feeling of togetherness within the team. “That always makes for a special atmosphere. The youngsters need more direction on the pitch,” Tuchel explained. On top of that, the new home jerseys added a special note to the afternoon.
“Every goal has an impact. We're happy we were able to give a good performance today. Bryan Zaragoza had several good moves on the left wing and we fielded two more young lads. This was a great family-and-friends-day in the Allianz Arena. I'm just enjoying this moment,” summarised Thomas Müller.
It became apparent right from the start that the team's motivation and character were on point. Lovro Zvonarek celebrated his starting debut by scoring after just four minutes. It was a maiden first-team goal for the 19-year-old in a milestone match for Manuel Neuer, who celebrated his 500th Bundesliga game. “Lovro has great character. It's fun to train with him. Today, he used this opportunity to play from the beginning. To start things off like this is obviously fantastic,“ Tuchel declared. After 13 minutes, Leon Goretzka doubled the lead.
“We were in control for 90 minutes and settled into the game well. That was crucial,” Neuer said. “It was tough to digest the Real game. We had to ignore that today and managed to do just that.” With this win, Bayern also extended their impressive home record against Wolfsburg (25 wins, two draws).
While Harry Kane, Leroy Sané, Jamal Musiala, Noussair Mazraoui and Serge Gnabry were all absent from the squad, Zvonarek and Bryan Zaragoza both celebrated their starting debuts. Goalkeeper Daniel Peretz also made his first Bundesliga appearance after taking over from Neuer on the hour. Additionally, Matteo Perez Vinlöf and Jonathan Asp-Jensen came on in the later stages.
“Daniel deserved to be in goal today due to the way he's been training and how he’s been presenting himself within the group. His behaviour is exemplary,” Tuchel explained, adding his match summary: “In the first 20 minutes, we found good solutions and nearly made it 3-0. Then we remained focused and saw the game through to the finish.
In the last match of the season Bayern travel to Hoffenheim aiming to defend second place in the Bundesliga table against the challenge posed by VfB Stuttgart.
With very good performances against Arsenal and Real Madrid, Bayern tried everything to win at least one trophy this season. Every single player went to and beyond the limit to achieve success. These kind of performances are only possible with the right attitude.
To experience a victory following the defeat against Real Madrid and to feel the unconditional loyalty of the Bayern supporters allows the club to look towards the future with confidence. That's what mattered on Sunday afternoon.
Of course, the past months have taken their toll but they also provided several valuable insights. “Next year the Champions League final is here at home. We’ll do everything we can to qualify for that,” Neuer promised.
Here's to the 2024/2025 season at the Allianz Arena.
Reaction to the victory against VfL Wolfsburg:
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