Bayern Munich are grinding out results rather than dazzling, and that tension between expectation and reality is shaping the early weeks of their season. A 2-1 win at promoted Elversberg on Sunday kept them unbeaten in the Bundesliga, but the victory was far from comfortable. Vincent Kompany needed a four-man substitution wave in the 65th minute, bringing on Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies and Luis Diaz, to turn a 1-1 stalemate into three points through Harry Kane's decisive finish.

The performance exposed familiar concerns. Luis Diaz has now wasted six big chances across three Bundesliga appearances, drawing frustration from teammates including Kane, and Sport1 reports the issue has caused internal unease. Kompany has publicly backed the Colombian, but the pressure on Diaz to convert will only grow.

There are genuine positives, too. Alphonso Davies, written off by some after Nathaniel Brown's arrival, is quietly winning the left-back competition. Musiala's return from his pre-season health scare continues to lift the squad, with Uli Hoeneß describing his Champions League goal against Bodø/Glimt as "unnachahmlich." Off the pitch, president Herbert Hainer has signalled that sporting director Christoph Freund is close to signing a contract extension, adding stability to the front office.

With seven points from three games, Bayern sit fourth, two points behind leaders Freiburg and Dortmund. Friday's home game against Union Berlin, where they will wear their Oktoberfest kit, offers a chance to close that gap.