Swinging into the new year: Bayern start preparations

The excitement was written across the face of Aleksandar Pavlović as he stepped onto the training pitch at Säbener Straße on Thursday afternoon. The wind was blowing in cold gusts, a thick blanket of cloud lay over Munich – and yet a broad smile flitted across the lips of the 20-year-old midfielder, who was the first to emerge from the dressing room. Thirteen days after the last match of 2024, things finally got under way again at Säbener Straße as FC Bayern kicked off the new football year. Wrapped up and in high spirits, coach Vincent Kompany's team gathered for the start of training.

📸 The photo gallery from the opening session:

Having signed off for the winter break with the 5-1 win at home to RB Leipzig, the German record champions were reunited for the first training session of the new year. With not long to go until the opening competitive fixture in 2025, the Bundesliga away game at Borussia Mönchengladbach on 11 January, Pavlović and Co must use the short period of preparation to lay the foundations for a successful second half of the campaign. In mild eight degrees and light winds, the team got down to work on Thursday. Whether it was in passing sequences or match drills, it was fast-paced and vocal on the pitch from the first minute. Bayern have evidently carried the momentum from last year and want to crown their strong start to the season.

Open training on Friday

The session, which lasted just under an hour, was the start of a short but intensive winter training programme. The Munich men will continue to work on the pitch over the coming days, including on Friday 3 January, when Bayern fans have the chance to watch Kompany and his players at work up close. Those who can't attend the open session at 10:30 CET can follow it in a free live stream:

Free live stream in English

FC Bayern training sessions

Friendly in Salzburg: live on FC Bayern TV PLUS

The only friendly of the winter break takes place this coming Monday, 6 January, as the Bavarians visit 17-time Austrian champions FC Red Bull Salzburg at 18:00 CET. The game will be available to watch live and exclusively (except in Austria) on FC Bayern TV PLUS (info on subscription).