Bayern Munich came so close last season. After winning the Bundesliga title, they very nearly booked their place in the Champions League final, but wound up losing 6-5 on aggregate to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain after two action-packed semifinals legs, the first of which having ended 5-4 in favor of PSG in Paris.
Bayern still went on to secure the domestic double, but they were so close to achieving yet another historic treble, following in the footsteps of 2020 and 2013. A little bit of better luck on their side could’ve pushed them through to the final in Budapest, but they were ultimately left to rue missed chances in either semifinals leg and left with key talking points from questionable refereeing decisions. That’s all history now, though.
Ahead of this season’s Champions League campaign kicking off, Bayern are looking to shake off some frustration from their 0-0 draw at Schalke in the Bundesliga and as they first square off against Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt. Ahead of their European campaign getting underway, Harry Kane said he believes the German Rekordmeister are close to being at the level to win the Champions League this season.
“Yes, we’re really close. I think last year was the finest of margins – to go out to a team who has won the Champions League back-to-back. There’s no shame in that. We’re coming into this season now saying that it needs to be our year. We need to find a way to get it done,” Bayern’s number 9 told TNT Sports (via @iMiaSanMia).
As is now often the case with the new format of the competition, Bayern does face some heavy hitters in the competition after they start off with favorable matchups against Bodø/Glimt and Viking. Tricky ties against Arsenal and Atlético Madrid lay in wait after their first two matches, and later on in ‘league phase’ play, they face the likes of Real Betis, Manchester United, Lille; all arguably far more tricky matches than Bodø/Glimt and Viking.
There’s no reason why Bayern should not automatically progress to the knockout stages, but it’s also worth remembering that PSG went on to win the competition in 2025 and last season after having to go through the playoff rounds. Last season, they beat fellow Ligue 1 side AS Monaco in the playoff rounds while having done the same against Brest in 2025.
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