While Vincent Kompany prepares Bayern Munich for their Bundesliga showdown with RB Leipzig, the head coach also has one eye on the club’s second team, who face 1860 Munich in a highly anticipated derby on Sunday.

The Bayern II squad will be looking to make its mark in one of the biggest fixtures of the Regionalliga season, and Kompany hopes the young players can rise to the occasion. Asked whether he would attend the match, the Belgian was not quite ready to commit, but he made sure to deliver a joke at the expense of Bayern II coach Dante.

“Dante has a lot more hair than me, but maybe not after this game,” Kompany said with a laugh (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). “The pressure [in the Regionalliga] is bigger than in youth football. It’s good, because the guys learn through that. I need to see if I can make it to the game on Sunday. I hope the guys show what they can do in the derby.”

Beyond the humor, Kompany highlighted the importance of these high-pressure matches in the development of Bayern’s young players. The Regionalliga provides a different challenge from youth football, with greater expectations and the intensity of competitive senior matches helping prospects prepare for the next level.

Sunday’s derby against 1860 Munich is precisely the kind of occasion that can test their mentality. Results matter, local pride is at stake, and the atmosphere can make the experience even more demanding.

For Bayern, the second team is an important part of the pathway toward the first team, and performances in games like this can help young players learn to handle pressure before potentially making the step up.

Whether Kompany makes it to the stands remains to be seen. One thing is certain: he will be hoping Dante and his players deliver a performance worth celebrating — and that the Bayern II coach still has plenty of hair left afterward!