• As always, let’s begin with a look at the starting XI:

• Without Joshua Kimmich (bereavement), Luis Díaz (hamstring), Jamal Musiala (thigh), Bara Sapoko Ndiaye (appendectomy), Manuel Neuer (foot), Vincent Kompany (hospitalization), Kim Min-jae (groin / knee), and Aleksandar Pavlović (calf), Bayern Munich had to scramble to put together this lineup. The most curious omission was Alphonso Davies. Otherwise, things seemed normal (well, as normal as they could be).
• Davies did eventually enter the game in the 73rd minute for Nathaniel Brown.
• Karl got the nod at the No. 10 position, which was likely a move hoping to unlock the youngster. Early in the game, his movement was still lacking.
• Regardless of the outcome, Bayern Munich should be commended for rallying around itself despite so much going wrong around the team.
• As anticipated, it was very choppy in the early going for Bayern Munich.
• In the 16th minute, though, the most unlikely of all goals happened, coming from Dayot Upamecano. Upamecano blocked a shot from Niklas Beste, made an outlet pass, but continued his run all the way up the field for a true end-to-end goal after he received the pass from Michael Olise and finished it. What a freakin’ play!
• Seriously, track down the video and watch that play.
• In the 22nd minute, Karl had a great chance to make it 2–0 after an awesome run and drive up the field, but he did not want to pass to Kane and ultimately made a horrific decision to pass backward, resulting in a turnover. Just a baffling play all around for Karl, who continues to earn all of the doubt suddenly coming his way.
• Nathaniel Brown had a good look in the 32nd minute, but caught too much of the center of the net with his attempt.
• The counterattacks were definitely Bayern Munich’s best form of offense on a day when not much else was in sync (which was understandable).
• Seconds after sending a shot back to Bavaria, Gnabry took a pass and beat Mio Backhaus through the five-hole for a 2–0 lead. What a sequence for the Germany international.
• It was an excellent pass from Brown and a great finish from Gnabry, who really needed that goal.
• In a game where he was the de facto lead midfielder, Tom Bischof was solid—not great. It does feel like he is going through some of the natural steps of progressing within the squad that he should have taken last season, when he rarely played in the central midfield.
• Kane seemed a little irritated with the lack of cohesion in the attack and the lack of service.
• In the 43rd minute, Lucas Höler saw Jonas Urbig off his line and tried to shoot from his own half. The ball ultimately went wide to the left. That would have been a big lift before the half, but, alas, it was not meant to be for the Breisgau-Brasilianer.
• The second half was more of the same for both Bayern Munich and SC Freiburg, though Igor Matanović’s substitution into the game for Höler did seem to make SC Freiburg a little more dangerous.
• Ismael Saibari and Sacha Boey entered the game in the 61st minute for Serge Gnabry and Josip Stanišić. Gnabry had a solid shift, and Stanišić had his best effort in quite a while, too.
• In the 82nd minute, SC Freiburg mounted its last charge and received a goal when a ball deflected off a sliding Tom Bischof twice. Urbig nearly swiped it away, but was thrown off by the timing after it hit Bischof’s chest.
• Matanović was a big problem to deal with, and Vincenzo Grifo was a headache as well. SC Freiburg should have subbed them on earlier.
• The final 10 minutes were an absolute scramble, as Bayern Munich was on its heels. Urbig stopped an attempt from Mathias Ginter in the 1st minute of added time, which saved his squad’s bacon.
• In the fifth minute of added time, Backhaus had an all-time blunder on the ball far away from his own goal, and Olise took advantage of it by pickpocketing the goalkeeper and sending in a long-distance roller for a goal.
• Overall, this was a gritty, tough win in a difficult environment. Bayern Munich needed to rally around each other, and the team did just that. It had to be a great feeling for Aaron Danks to get the win, and the squad once again showed tremendous heart and fight. These kinds of wins might not mean much now, but they do help bring a group closer together. On to the DFB-Pokal!

Manchester United are monitoring Como attacking midfielder Nico Paz ahead of next season, while Chelsea are also keen, Nicolò Schira reports. Real Madrid hold an €80 million clause to re-sign him, which becomes valid in early July, but Como are eager to keep the 22-year-old Argentina international after his two goals and an assist in their 4-1 Champions League victory over Manchester United.

Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United are among the clubs alerted to Lennart Karl’s ongoing situation at Bayern Munich, with sources telling TEAMtalk that the German wonderkid could become one to watch heading into 2027 if circumstances do not improve.

Things have not gone according to plan at Bayern this term. Karl has been restricted to just two Bundesliga starts and one in the Champions League, leaving him with less regular involvement than he would have hoped for after his impressive breakthrough season.

One factor has been the form of new signing Ismael Saibari, whose performances have strengthened the competition for places and made it harder for Karl to secure a regular starting role.

However, TEAMtalk understands that concerns extend beyond the pitch, with sources confirming that Bayern are unhappy with aspects of Karl’s off-field behaviour.

Nevertheless, TEAMtalk has been told that intermediaries have been making calls as clubs keep a close eye on the situation. Should Karl’s circumstances fail to improve, sources suggest that his future could become a significant talking point heading into 2027.

Arsenal and Liverpool are both well aware of developments, having previously pursued the player before he opted to sign a new deal with Bayern.

Manchester United have also been alerted to the situation, potentially putting three of the Premier League’s biggest clubs on notice.

The interest is not limited to England, either. Barcelona and Real Madrid are understood to retain an interest in Karl, having both tried to sign him when he was just 10 after he impressed at a youth tournament.

Galatasaray are pulling out of a potential move for Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes, leaving Saudi Arabia as his most likely destination if he departs Old Trafford, per TEAMtalk. With less than a year on his contract and talks over a new deal not progressing, the 32-year-old’s high wage demands restrict his options in Europe, whereas Al Hilal remain attentive.

Liverpool and Real Madrid are among the top clubs keen on signing Luka Vuskovic as he makes waves at Brighton, sources have told Football Insider.

Vuskovic is emerging as one of the best young centre-backs in football as he nails down a spot as a regular starter for Brighton.

Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “He looks like a special talent - there’s no getting away from that. This form is going to attract interest from top clubs, not just in the Premier League but across Europe.

”There’s been talk of Real Madrid also being interested in Vuskovic, and I’m sure Liverpool are as well. A lot of the top guns are keeping tabs on the Croatian international because he does look like a player with huge potential who probably will only get better and better.”

He will not come cheap, as sources have exclusively revealed to Football Insider that Brighton believe Vuskovic is already a £100m talent just a few months after they signed him for less than half that fee.

Liverpool have held contact with representatives of Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha, reports Sky Germany. However, no formal offer is being prepared for the 26-year-old, with the Reds placing AS Monaco’s Lamine Camara and Bournemouth’s Alex Scott higher on their priority list.

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