Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.
Vincent Kompany is making “no excuses” for Bayern Munich’s recent Champions League struggles and vows his team will give it their all this term.
Kompany has enjoyed a trophy-laden start to life at Bayern, winning two Bundesliga titles and a DFB-Pokal, but the Champions League has so far escaped them.
Last year, they made it to the semi-finals, where they were beaten by eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain, though that still marked an improvement on their quarter-final exit the season prior.
This term, they are among the favourites to lift the trophy; only Arsenal (21.6%) are given a higher probability of lifting the trophy than Bayern (17.8%).
Kompany’s side begin their Champions League campaign against Bodo/Glimt, who were last season’s surprise package after they beat Inter in the knockout-stage play-offs.
“Nobody expected us to have such a strong season [in 2025-26] overall,” Kompany said.
“Bayern are one of the clubs who always have the aim of winning the title at the start of the season. The focus for now is just on Bodo/Glimt, but I think it’s always good to clearly state goals.
“My priority now is on winning that match, and we want to put everything into that.
“There are always lessons [to learn from last season]. We were missing 11 players against Inter Milan two years ago; last season, we had pretty much everyone available. It’s not always in your own hands; it’s about details.
“There are no excuses; you have to be better than the opposition. But you also need luck, which you have to force. We’ll try our best to be involved in those games again.”
Up next: 26/27 Champions League debut pic.twitter.com/AqAbJ1Laba
— FC Bayern (@FCBayernEN) September 6, 2026
Bayern have faced Norwegian sides eight times previously in major European competition without losing (W6 D2).
They have won their opening game in each of their last 23 major European campaigns (22 in the Champions League, one in the UEFA Cup), stretching back to 2003-04.
Bayern also have a strong home record behind them, having won 36 of their last 38 home Champions League group/league phase matches (D2) since losing 3-2 to Manchester City back in December 2013 under Pep Guardiola.
But Kompany remains wary of Bodo after they proved they can go toe-to-toe with top teams during their first Champions League campaign.
“Bodo/Glimt is a great story for football. The more you analyse them, the more you realise that it all makes sense,” Kompany added.
“Every player can run a lot; every player wants to defend and press. They have a clear idea, and the players follow that idea clearly.
“It’s difficult to implement that; transfers also come into it. With the money they have, they shouldn’t really be competing with the teams that they are – that’s the biggest compliment you can pay.”
There could be a first appearance since April for Serge Gnabry, with Kompany set to make a late decision over the winger’s fitness.
The German has been sidelined since April with an adductor injury, but Kompany is hesitant to rush him back to first-team action.
“If it’s not [against Bodo], it will be soon, then we’ll have everyone available,” Kompany said of Gnabry.
“The main thing is that we’ve not forgotten how good he was last season. Our aim is for him to get back to that level. We know his qualities.
“The quicker he comes back, the better; we want him for the whole season. When Serge reaches his level, everyone else in that position also has to be good; then you have that competition and sharpness.”
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