Bayern Munich’s best-ever start: why the champions have been so good

Bayern Munich made a record start to the 2022/23 Bundesliga season, scoring 15 goals and conceding just one in three commanding victories. But why have the champions been so fast out of the blocks this year?

Bayern gave fair warning of what was to come when they went to RB Leipzig and won 5-3 in the season-opening DFL Supercup on 30 July.

Julian Nagelsmann’s team have not let up since. A 6-1 victory at the home of UEFA Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt on the opening weekend would have had their Bundesliga rivals worried about what lay ahead.

Wolfsburg did well given that context, only losing 2-0 in Munich on Matchday 2. Bochum, though, felt the full force of the champions’ power – hammered 7-0 just like they were away from home last season.

Bochum recovered to record a famous 4-2 win over Bayern in February, but it doesn’t look like this version of the 10-in-a-row champions are likely to suffer a similar result this season.

One obvious explanation for why they have flourished so far is Sadio Mane. Replacing Robert Lewandowski – a man who got 344 goals in 375 games for the club – was never going to be easy.

Mane, though, has the experience and the quality to do just that. The 30-year-old was named African Footballer of the Year and included on the Ballon d’Or shortlist with good reason, after all, having fired Senegal to continental glory and Liverpool close to an unprecedented quadruple of major trophies.

Mane has had no trouble settling, scoring on his debut in the Supercup and against Frankfurt. He followed up with a double against Bochum, and it’s clear his know-how, movement and pace has added a different dimension to Bayern’s game this season.

“He’s fast – he’s tricky,” wrote Bayern and Germany legend Lothar Matthäus in a column for Sky. “He’s exactly the right player for the system without a real number nine that Bayern are now playing after Robert Lewandowski’s departure.”

Mane’s fellow summer arrival Matthijs De Ligt gave an insight into his teammate’s impact after the match against Bochum.

“The intensity that he brings into the matches is so important,” the Dutch defender said. “You see that a lot of opponents have difficulties with him and I know why because in training he always gave me a hard time.”

Mane has had no trouble settling, scoring on his debut in the Supercup and against Frankfurt. He followed up with a double against Bochum, and it’s clear his know-how, movement and pace has added a different dimension to Bayern’s game this season.

“He’s fast – he’s tricky,” wrote Bayern and Germany legend Lothar Matthäus in a column for Sky. “He’s exactly the right player for the system without a real number nine that Bayern are now playing after Robert Lewandowski’s departure.”

Mane’s fellow summer arrival Matthijs De Ligt gave an insight into his teammate’s impact after the match against Bochum.

“The intensity that he brings into the matches is so important,” the Dutch defender said. “You see that a lot of opponents have difficulties with him and I know why because in training he always gave me a hard time.”