Lennart Karl had triple cause for celebration on Saturday. As well as setting up the opening goal for Harry Kane with a clever corner-kick routine and helping FC Bayern to a fourth win (4-1) in four Bundesliga games, it was already clear before kick-off that the match at TSG Hoffenheim would be a special one for the young winger. He was named in the German record champions’ starting line-up in the Bundesliga for the first time – and joined an exclusive group of young talents. fcbayern.com looks back at the Munich club's youngest starters in the German top flight.
Bayern’s third-youngest starting debutant in the Bundesliga: David Alaba
Having made his Champions League debut for Bayern earlier that week in the round of 16 second leg at Fiorentina, David Alaba also started a Bundesliga game for the first time just a few days later. He clearly made a good impression in his first 90 minutes in Europe as head coach Louis van Gaal handed the promising defender another start in the home game against SC Freiburg on Matchday 26 of the 2009/10 – and the gamble paid off.
Despite being a midfielder by trade and just 17 years, eight months and 17 days old, he handled his task on the left side of defence with aplomb and played a key role in the late comeback win at the Allianz Arena. It was the start of a new era in the left-back position: Alaba went on to make a total of 431 competitive appearances for the Bavarians, most of them as the left full-back. Few defenders defined the 2010s at FC Bayern in the way that he did.
Bayern’s second-youngest starting debutant in the Bundesliga: Lennart Karl
It looked like being a long afternoon as Bayern struggled to get into the game in the clash at Hoffenheim on Saturday. The hosts from the Kraichgau put up dogged resistance, hardly allowing Bayern any opportunities and threatening the Munich goal regularly. The fact it was a stroke of genius from the 17-year-old debutant that provided the opening goal in the 44th minute delighted coach Vincent Kompany. “The pass was perfect,” he praised the low corner delivery from Karl, which set up Kane to break the deadlock.
The German U17 international, who was starting in the Bundesliga for the first time at the age of 17 years, six months and 29 days, repaid the trust of his coach with an assist in the first half. “It's fun to play with the boys every day,” said Karl after the match. “Being in the starting line-up was something special for me.” He also revealed that the set-piece tactic was something they discussed in training: “That's why I played the ball there, the space was there. Harry struck it perfectly.” With it, the talented attacker also became Bayern’s youngest ever provider in the German top flight, beating the 18-year-old record set by Toni Kroos by 55 days.
Bayern’s youngest starting debutant in the Bundesliga: Mathys Tel
Mathys Tel also celebrated a successful full debut in the Bundesliga for Bayern. On 10 September 2022, coach Julian Nagelsmann threw the summer signing into the starting XI for the home game against VfB Stuttgart (2-2) at the age of 17 years, four months and 14 days. The Frenchman made a quick impact, turning in a cross from Alphonso Davies in the 36th minute with his supposedly weaker left foot to make it 1-0.
The forward made two bits of history at the start of his time in Munich: not only did he become Bayern’s youngest Bundesliga goalscorer, but he still holds the record as the German record champions’ youngest starting debutant in the league. Tel made a total of 83 competitive appearances for FCB before moving on last winter, scoring 16 goals and setting up another seven.
The reaction to the win over Hoffenheim:
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