Bayern Munich find themselves in a remarkable position: leading the Bundesliga table on 17 points after seven games, yet doing so without their manager. Vincent Kompany collapsed during training on Friday, was airlifted to hospital, and will miss several weeks as doctors continue their investigations. Sportvorstand Max Eberl confirmed the Belgian is stable and no longer suffering headaches, but stressed recovery will take time, telling reporters the club will give Kompany "all the time to really get healthy" and then "probably one more week on top of that."

The scale of what the squad achieved at Freiburg makes the situation all the more striking. Co-trainer Aaron Danks took charge of a side missing Kompany, Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, Luis Diaz, Jamal Musiala, Aleksandar Pavlovic and Bara Ndiaye. Dayot Upamecano opened the scoring with a composed finish after a surging run from his own half, Serge Gnabry added his 100th Bundesliga goal before half-time, and Michael Olise sealed a 3-1 win deep in stoppage time after a nervy finale. Kompany sent Danks a WhatsApp message at full-time reading "well done" before being told to rest.

Bayern share first place with Borussia Dortmund on 17 points, with goal difference separating the two sides. The next test comes Wednesday at the Allianz Arena against Magdeburg in the DFB-Pokal, before a Bundesliga top-of-the-table clash with Dortmund on Saturday.