Bayern Munich

For years now, Manuel Neuer has been established as the premier sweeper-keeper in the world. The German World Cup winner and Bayern Munich No. 1 essentially redefined the position. But even Neuer gets things wrong from time to time.

A stunning mistake from Manuel Neuer vs Paderborn nearly cost Bayern three points on Friday. The visitors twice pegged back the reigning champions before Robert Lewandowski saved Neuer’s blushes with an 88th-minute winner for a 3-2 victory at Allianz Arena.

The year is 2020. A top-of-the-table Bundesliga clash between Bayern Munich and Leipzig is being dictated by a fascinating duel between a 19-year-old Canadian and a 20-year-old American. Bayern Munich doesn’t win. 

How ‘bout that for a bit of science fiction?! But that’s actually what happened on Sunday during the sort of match that proves a 0-0 scoreline can still be a damn good time. 

Despite forgetting his appropriate coaching certificates in the United States and Mexico, Jürgen Klinsmann had his license renewed in time to be on the bench for Hertha Berlin’s massive clash against Bayern Munich at the Olympiastadion on Sunday. After watching Bayern run rampant in the second half of a 4-0 victory, the former USMNT manager probably wishes that the German Football Association had made a clerical example of him.

On Jan. 4, Bayern Munich announced the acquisition of Schalke goalkeeper Alexander Nubel for the beginning of next season. Nubel, named club captain by new manager David Wagner ahead of the 2019-20 campaign, will see out his contract with the Royal Blues and sign for Bayern on a free transfer. Nubel's exit represents the latest occurrence of a worrying trend for Schalke, which has seen several players depart for free over the years, leaving the club emptyhanded. 

Bayern Munich enters the German winter break on the backend of a chaotic start to the season, one which cost manager Niko Kovač his job at the beginning of November. However, despite starting the month of December sitting seventh in the Bundesliga, Bayern has now won three straight by an aggregate scoreline of 11-2 to climb back to third in the table, just four points behind leaders RB Leipzig.

There are great goals, crap goals and meh goals. Then there are the goals that are just mean. Philippe Coutinho scored a meh goal and a great goal on Saturday against Werder Bremen, but the middle strike of his hat trick fell firmly in the category of cruel and unusual punishment.

Bayern Munich fell behind early to Bremen but ran away with an easy 6-1 win, with Coutinho netting three. Robert Lewandowski added two, because of course he did, and Thomas Müller joined in on the fun as well.

Robert Lewandowski, for all his goal scoring, might be one of the most underrated players in the world right now. And while his clinical finishing is well documented, his all-around footballing is often overlooked. 

Lewandowski scored two more goals to lead Bayern Munich to a 4-0 rout of rival Borussia Dortmund in Saturday’s Der Klassiker at Allianz Arena, extending his run of scoring in every Bundesliga and Champions League match this season.

But we can’t get over the lovely bit of skill he pulled off to set up an opportunity, even if it didn’t result in a goal.