Bayern Munich are navigating one of the most turbulent weeks in their recent history, yet they emerge from it top of the Bundesliga. The central story is Vincent Kompany's collapse on Friday during training, which left the Belgian hospitalised and unavailable for the trip to Freiburg. Sportvorstand Max Eberl confirmed the situation is stable but warned that a return is weeks away, with the club instructing all visitors to avoid any football talk so Kompany can focus entirely on his recovery.

Co-trainer Aaron Danks stepped in and guided a heavily depleted squad to a 3-1 win at the Europa-Park Stadion. Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, Luis Diaz, Jamal Musiala, Min-jae Kim, Aleksandar Pavlovic and Bara Ndiaye all missed the match through injury or personal circumstances. Despite those absences, Dayot Upamecano delivered a commanding performance, scoring the opener and anchoring the defence throughout. Michael Olise sealed the result in stoppage time after Freiburg briefly threatened a comeback following a Tom Bischof own goal.

The win keeps Bayern level on 17 points with Borussia Dortmund at the top of the table, with goal difference separating the two sides. Kompany sent Danks a WhatsApp message after the final whistle reading simply "well done," though Danks responded by telling his boss to rest. Eberl was emotional after the match, describing the result as far more than three points given the circumstances. Bayern host Magdeburg in the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday before a potentially decisive Bundesliga clash with Dortmund on Saturday.