Bayern Munich kicked off their 2024/25 season and Vincent Kompany’s managerial tenure with a commanding 4-0 victory over second-division Ulm in the German Cup on Friday, August 16, 2024. The match marked the first competitive fixture of the German football season.
Thomas Muller, the 34-year-old Bayern veteran, set the tone early with two goals in quick succession. He opened the scoring in the 12th minute, tapping in a pass from Joshua Kimmich, before doubling the lead shortly after by converting a cross from Serge Gnabry.
Late in the second half, Kingsley Coman extended Bayern’s lead, turning in a pass from new signing Michael Olise with 11 minutes remaining. Harry Kane, Bayern’s high-profile summer acquisition, capped off the performance with his first German Cup goal in injury time.
This victory marks a strong start for Bayern under Kompany, who was brought in after the club’s first trophyless season since 2012. The Bavarian giants, 20-time German Cup winners, will be looking to improve on their recent cup performances, having failed to progress past the quarter-finals since their treble-winning 2019-20 season.
In other German Cup action, Bundesliga sides Mainz, St Pauli, and Hoffenheim all advanced to the next round despite early scares against lower league opposition.
Ulm, appearing in the second division for the first time in 23 years following their promotion, put up a respectable fight against the German powerhouse.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Kompany’s Bayern to see if they can reclaim their dominant position in German football and make a deep run in the German Cup competition.
