Bayern secure victory with Davies on the bench as Kompany recovers
Bayern Munich kept their winning run alive on Sunday, beating Freiburg 3‑1 despite the absence of manager Vincent Kompany, who is recovering from a medical incident, while Canadian captain Alphonso Davies made a late appearance as a substitute for the final minutes.
Davies' impact and Champions League form
Alphonso Davies entered the match in the 74th minute, replacing Nathaniel Brown, and recorded eleven touches before the final whistle. He created one brief half‑chance but otherwise had limited influence as Bayern were already leading 2‑0 when he came on. The Canadian had featured on the left wing three days earlier, scoring in Bayern’s UEFA Champions League win over Arsenal on Wednesday, before reverting to his regular left‑back role for the Freiburg game.
Earlier in the week, there was speculation that Davies might earn further minutes on the wing after Colombian forward Luis Díaz was ruled out with a hamstring injury. Despite that hope, he did not receive a second spell in the advanced position against Freiburg, remaining at left back for the remainder of the contest.
Match events and Kompany's absence
Dayot Upamecano opened the scoring after a solo run in the 16th minute, putting Bayern ahead. Serge Gnabry, who had been drafted into the left‑wing slot for Davies, doubled the lead on the stroke of half‑time. An own goal by Bayern midfielder Tom Bischof added to the tally in the final ten minutes, and Michael Olise completed the scoreline with a 95th‑minute insurance marker.
Aaron Danks steps in for Kompany as FC Bayern's stand‑in head coach in Freiburg
Vincent Kompany collapsed after leading the first‑team training session on Friday and was taken to hospital by ambulance, with an emergency helicopter also attending the scene. The 40‑year‑old Belgian coach will remain in hospital for several days, missing Sunday’s trip to Freiburg as he undergoes further examinations.
Bayern issued a statement confirming that Kompany is receiving medical care and that assistant coaches Aaron Danks and Rene Maric will oversee training and matches until further notice. Sporting director Max Eberl told on Sunday that Kompany is stable, no longer suffering headaches and that examinations are progressing well.
Danks later shared a WhatsApp exchange with the manager, writing, “Brilliant, now rest,” after receiving a “Well done” message from Vince. He added a kissing emoji, hoping the coach would take the time to recover.
Bayern under pressure from Kompany's hospital admission ahead of Champions League
The win demonstrates Bayern’s depth, with individual quality compensating for the temporary loss of their manager and the limited minutes afforded to Davies.