Seventeen-year-old Lennart Karl made a significant impact for Bayern Munich as they mounted a comeback from two goals down to defeat Freiburg 6-2, matching an old record in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
In his ninth league appearance and second start, Karl sent a message to Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann ahead of next year’s World Cup, contributing a goal and an assist to spark Bayern’s rally.
– Why everyone is talking about Bayern Munich’s Lennart Karl?
– Bayern’s Luis Díaz receives 3-game UCL ban for red card vs. PSG
“Lenny … it’s always challenging,” Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany commented at the news conference. “When you score six goals, numerous players contribute.”
“The turning point was undoubtedly our 2-1 goal. It showcased quality and provided us with momentum. Not many players can create such phases, and it energized our performance thereafter.”
The teenage sensation, who became the youngest Champions League scorer for Bayern earlier this season, set another record as the youngest player in the club’s history to score and assist in a single Bundesliga match.
Only one player younger than Karl has achieved this with any Bundesliga team: former Borussia Dortmund striker Youssoufa Moukoko, who accomplished it in a 3-1 victory over Freiburg in August 2022.
Michael Olise also shined in the victory, scoring twice and assisting another three goals.
Bayern, who would have maintained their top position even with a loss, equaled their 52-year-old record of 43 consecutive rounds at the summit of the league. They will surpass this record regardless of the outcome in their upcoming match against St. Pauli next weekend, after facing Arsenal away in the Champions League this Wednesday.
“Any record that lasts this long is a testament to impressive performance,” Kompany acknowledged. “However, we don’t dwell too much on records.”
“We believe we’ve gained both confidence and mental sharpness from this game, addressing the aspects that didn’t go well.”
Freiburg capitalized on Bayern’s slow start, with Yuito Suzuki and Johan Manzambi netting goals from corners within the first 18 minutes, marking the first time Bayern had trailed at home this season.
Karl responded quickly, scoring just four minutes later with a precise finish after controlling a pass from Olise. He assisted Olise to equalize before halftime.
The dynamic Karl nearly added another goal in the second half, but his effort was ruled offside after a VAR review.
Dayot Upamecano scored off an Olise corner, followed by Harry Kane, who added to his league-leading total in the 60th minute.
Karl departed to applause in the 71st minute after sustaining a hip injury, paving the way for Olise to assist substitute Nicolas Jackson for Bayern’s fifth goal in the 78th minute. Olise capped off the scoring in the 84th minute after receiving a pass from Hiroki Ito, who made his season debut.
Next up for Bayern is a challenging fixture against one of the two teams that currently hold a perfect record after four Champions League games, Arsenal.
“The next match is another home game in the Bundesliga, but we also have the Champions League clash against Arsenal in between,” Kompany said. “We’ve positioned ourselves well as we look to continue improving.”
When asked about their readiness for the challenge, the former Manchester City captain replied, “Perhaps more than ever. At least, that’s my hope.”
Information from The Associated Press was incorporated into this report.