Bayern Munich are navigating one of the most turbulent weeks in recent memory, yet they emerge from it top of the Bundesliga with 17 points from seven games. The backdrop to Sunday's 3-1 win at Freiburg was deeply unsettling: head coach Vincent Kompany collapsed on the training ground Friday, was airlifted to hospital, and watched the match from his bed. Sportvorstand Max Eberl confirmed Kompany is stable but will be absent for weeks, with Co-Trainer Aaron Danks stepping in at the Europa-Park Stadion.

The scale of the injury crisis made the result even more striking. Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, Luis Diaz, Jamal Musiala, Min-Jae Kim, Aleksandar Pavlovic and young talent Bara Ndiaye all missed the game. Dayot Upamecano opened the scoring with a composed finish after driving forward from his own box, Serge Gnabry added a second for his 100th Bundesliga goal, and Michael Olise settled matters with a stoppage-time strike after winning the ball at the halfway line. A Tom Bischof own goal gave Freiburg brief hope, but Jonas Urbig made five strong saves to protect the win.

Kompany sent Danks a WhatsApp message after the final whistle reading simply "Well done. He is happy," though the club has instructed all visitors to avoid any football conversation while he recovers. Bayern face Magdeburg in the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday before a top-of-the-table Bundesliga clash with Borussia Dortmund the following Saturday.