Bayern Munich are among the leading favourites to lift the UEFA Champions League trophy in 2027. Their campaign begins on Thursday against Bodø/Glimt, launching a mission to finally convert recent near-misses into a title, as reported by Bundesliga.com.
Why is Harry Kane the key figure?
Harry Kane has become the focal point of Bayern's attack since his arrival in summer 2023. The England striker has scored 148 goals in all competitions for the German champions. In the Champions League alone, he has 33 goals, including eight in his debut campaign which saw him share the top scorer award with Kylian Mbappé. His efficiency is remarkable, averaging a goal involvement every 79 minutes in the competition. Kane has reached two semi-finals with Bayern, losing to Real Madrid in 2024 and Paris Saint-Germain in 2025. "Yes, we're really close," Kane stated. "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."
How will the new signings contribute?
Bayern have strategically strengthened their squad this summer. Ismael Saibari joined from PSV Eindhoven after helping Morocco reach the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals. Nathaniel Brown arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt, a versatile player capable at right-back or as a No.10, who scored the winner in the 2-1 Franz Beckenbauer Supercup victory over Borussia Dortmund. The most potent offensive weapon alongside Kane, however, is Michael Olise. The Frenchman contributed 22 goals and 26 assists last season and has already netted three times this term. His potential is such that he is considered a contender for the Ballon d'Or. Kylian Mbappé said of him: "He is a player for today, and for tomorrow. He has that elegance, that vision... He saves his words. But his feet speak for him."
What does the midfield look like now?
The central midfield department has seen changes. Leon Goretzka departed for Aston Villa. That leaves experienced campaigner Joshua Kimmich alongside younger talents Aleksandar Pavlović and Tom Bischof. Another option in the engine room is Bara Sapoko Ndiaye. Manager Vincent Kompany must find the right balance from this mix for the demanding schedule ahead. The squad list composition can be viewed on our squad page.
What is Bayern's historical standing?
Bayern boast a proud European history. The club has won the Champions League six times, twice as many as Manchester United, and appeared in eleven finals. This record is only surpassed by Real Madrid, who have 15 titles and 18 final appearances. Since beating PSG in the 2020 final, Bayern have reached at least the quarter-finals every season. The semi-final defeats of the last two years against Real Madrid and PSG have only sharpened the hunger. The full schedule for the competition is available in our fixtures list.
What are Vincent Kompany's targets?
Vincent Kompany has set clear objectives for his team. "Our targets are to win the Bundesliga, cup, Champions League, and possibly every match," the manager stated. Reality intervened after the draw with Schalke, prompting him to admit that winning every match was out of the question. In that match, he rested both Kane and Olise, a move underscoring the long-term focus. The next step on that journey is the group stage fixture against Bodø/Glimt on Thursday. The latest standings across all competitions can be tracked on the standings page.
