FC Bayern are threatened with an extra round after a 3-0 defeat against Rotterdam

After the next away flop, FC Bayern Munich has to fear more than ever an annoying and dangerous extra round in the fight for a place in the round of 16 in the Champions League. The 0:3 (0:2) against Feyenoord in the cool rain of Rotterdam was a powerful cold shower for coach Vincent Kompany’s star ensemble after three wins to start the new year in the Bundesliga.

After all, the final in Munich is the goal in 2025. Even with a home win on the last matchday in a week against Slovan Bratislava, Bayern are unlikely to make it into the top 8 given the current table configuration. In February there is a risk of an extra knockout round in the fight for the round of 16.

The Mexican international Santiago Giminez was the one man of the evening at “De Kuip” with his two powerful goals from the edge of the penalty area (21st minute) and from the penalty spot (45th + 9). The other was Justin Bijlow.

The Feyenoord goalkeeper not only made striker Harry Kane despair in the 50th premier class game. The 27-year-old saved almost everything in front of over 50,000 spectators – and was lucky that substitute Leroy Sané shot onto the post (70th). Ayase Ueda added the goal for the hosts in the 88th minute.

“We want to play our game,” said Bayern’s sports director confidently on the DAZN microphone before kick-off. A request that went wrong! There was a lack of luck at the front. And there were blatant mistakes at the back, similar to the away defeats against Aston Villa (0:1) and FC Barcelona (1:4).

Bad weather, great atmosphere – that was the external setting in the legendary De Kuip. After fireworks were set off, dense clouds of smoke wafted through the arena, forcing French referee François Letexier to stop the game for several minutes. When perspective was back, Bayern controlled their opponents and their mood.

Until the first key scene. A long ball from Gijs Smal from his own half outwitted the Bayern defense, center forward Gimenez scored powerfully from the edge of the penalty area after taking the ball superbly with his left foot.

No Bayern shot goes in Now Bayern had a problem, to which they responded with a lot of possession and several shots from Kingsley Coman and Kane, which Bijlow parried brilliantly. Then suddenly Alphonso Davies was sitting on the ground and had to get out. Raphael Guerreiro came in for him – and had a catastrophic performance. The Portuguese fouled Calvin Stengs impetuously. Giminez converted powerfully.

15:3 shots on goal for Bayern, 2:0 for Rotterdam – those were the numbers at the break. Vincent Kompany reacted, took risks and brought in Sané as an additional offensive force for full-back Konrad Laimer. Things continued as before the break. After a pass from Jamal Musiala, who was in the starting line-up for the first time in 2025, Kane was denied by the devil Bijlow (54′). Musiala’s header was also saved by the devil in the Feyenoord jersey.