You could feel It in the air. Somehow the fans in the stands, the substitutes on the bench and perhaps even his teammates on the pitch sensed it. When Leroy Sané set off on a mazy run from his half-right position in the 53rd minute of the Champions League semi-final first leg against Real Madrid, a fresh breeze suddenly blew through the arena on that balmy spring evening. Joshua Kimmich ran to catch up with his teammate, but Sané had long since made his decision: He would go for goal on his own.
A murmur went through the stadium. Everyone suspected what was about to happen - it was unmistakable and yet almost impossible to defend against. Sané charged at full speed towards his opponent Ferland Mendy, took the ball past him, leaving him standing and smashed it into the near corner. Where the goalkeeper should have saved it. A mistake by Andrij Lunin? Perhaps. But he can hardly be blamed - what could he have done against a powerful, precise and superbly clinical strike like that?
The spectators threw their arms around each other in jubilation, while Sané himself celebrated his triumph with a clenched fist and a leap into the air in front of the Südkurve. His celebration was for the fans. All the tension, all the pressure that weighed on this game gave way to pure redemption in that second. It was one of those special moments in which Sané showed all his class, passion and irrepressible will on the pitch - a moment that will remain etched in the fans' memories.
Sané's specialty: dribbling
Every defence had respect for precisely such one-on-one situations - and for good reason. With his pace, technical skills and absolute drive towards goal, the 1.83 metre-tall attacker posed a constant threat, especially in quick transition situations. Something he impressively demonstrated in the Champions League round of 16 first leg at Arsenal (2-2) in the 2023/24 season. After collecting a pass from Joshua Kimmich, the number ten nutmegged his opponent and then weaved through half the Londoners' back line, stopping only when he was brought down in the box. Harry Kane converted the resulting penalty to give Bayern a 2-1 lead - a key moment in a game in which Sané's qualities made the difference.
Scoring after a double one-two
The winger not only impressed with brilliant individual moves, but also with his keen instinct for situations and where his teammates are. He provided a prime example of this in the Champions League clash at Inter Milan: Danilo d'Ambrosio's own goal was the result of some remarkable link-up play that Sané initiated with great vision. Surrounded by three opponents, he found Kingsley Coman in space in the centre. The Frenchman elegantly played the ball onto the onrushing Sané with just one touch. After another quick one-two with the Frenchman, Bayern's number ten fired a low ball into the centre - forcing d'Ambrosio into scoring an own goal. Two one-twos, perfect one-touch football and an attack that overwhelmed even Inter's experienced defence.
Over 35 km/h: pacy dribbler Sané was unstoppable
The ‘S’ in Sané stands for speed: once the winger fired up the turbo, he was all but unstoppable. He's already been clocked at an impressive 35.3 kilometres per hour this season. Only one Bayern player was a tick faster last season in the Bundesliga: Alphonso Davies reached an impressive 36.2 kilometres per hour.
Sané impressively demonstrated the speed he can conjure up on the pitch in the 2022 Supercup against RB Leipzig. His goal to make the final score 5-3 remains etched in the memory of many fans to this day: in the eighth minute of stoppage time, a long ball was played out of the Bayern penalty area. Sané set off on a sprint - irresistible, unstoppable. In the box, he sent the defender the wrong way with an elegant backheel, then did the same to goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi with a side-step and coolly slotted home into the left corner. A goal that not only impressively demonstrated his pace, but also his technical skill and composure - a typical Sané moment.
Lethal at set-pieces
Whereby Sané didn't even have to get close to the opposition's box to exude a goal threat - his qualities often shone through from further back or from set-pieces. With feeling, precision and a fine topspin, he flicked free-kicks over the wall and into the net. As was the case in the 2021 DFB Cup match against Holstein Kiel, for example, when he scored with a dream free-kick to make it 2-1 for Bayern. He also showed his class in the Champions League match at Benfica in the same year: his direct free-kick to give Bayern a 1-0 lead was a real highlight. His goal in the 7-0 away win at Bochum was no less impressive: from around 25 metres, he gave VfL keeper Manuel Riemann absolutely no chance.
In January of this year, TSG Hoffenheim also experienced the power and precision that Sané brought to his finishes. With just five minutes on the clock, Thomas Müller played a clever ball into the penalty area to Sané, who was in space and he finished powerfully into the far corner from a centre-right position. No wonder the fans chose this strike as their FC Bayern Goal of the Month for January.
Goals, assists, appearances: Sané's record at FC Bayern
During his five years in Munich, Sané made 223 appearances, scoring 61 goals and providing a further 55 assists. The winger played a key role in Bayern's success in recent years. With his skill, passion and many unforgettable moments, he thrilled the fans and left his mark on FC Bayern.
Thank you for five wonderful years, Leroy!
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