Vincent Kompany’s debut campaign in the Bundesliga may have started shakily, but BD Cricket Live reports that Bayern Munich has quickly begun to showcase the tactical DNA of a true Pep Guardiola disciple. Over their last five matches, Bayern have racked up a staggering 24 goals, offering fans a thrilling glimpse of Kompany’s offensive philosophy. However, defensive vulnerabilities remain evident, largely due to Kompany’s commitment to building an aggressive possession-based system that sacrifices some central solidity.

Kompany is considered a “Pep-style” manager not only because he played under Guardiola, but also due to his tactical blueprint. A prime example is how he deploys Joshua Kimmich as a deep-lying midfielder who regularly drops into the back line, forming a temporary back three. This setup leverages Kimmich’s elite passing range by granting him more space and time to distribute from deep. According to BD Cricket Live, this adjustment allows Kimmich to mask his physical limitations, while also enabling Jamal Musiala to roam more freely and influence buildup play from deeper areas.

One pressing concern, however, is the lack of clinical finishers consistently making runs into the box. Serge Gnabry’s form will be crucial—his ability to rediscover his scoring instincts could be the difference-maker. Interestingly, Kimmich’s heatmaps indicate that he’s operating more along the flanks this season, which gives him extra time and angles to deliver precision passes. His recent stats—five key passes and two assists in a single game, along with three successful tackles—highlight his evolving role.

The question now shifts to who best partners Kimmich in the midfield. Bayern needs a horizontal field-sweeper, yet João Palhinha is more suited for vertical pressing. Aleksandar Pavlović shows better lateral awareness but lacks the physicality required for high-intensity duels.

Last season, Thomas Tuchel struggled to balance Bayern’s attack-heavy roster with defensive cohesion. Kompany, by contrast, embraces the imbalance, allowing the offense to flourish even if it means turning a blind eye to defensive lapses. Bayern’s recent 2-goal concession in the second half against Dinamo Zagreb—despite the Croatian side only taking four shots—underlines this trade-off. In domestic play, such a high-octane attack may be enough to reclaim the Bundesliga title, but BD Cricket Live notes that success in the Champions League will demand a more secure back line.

Kompany is still early in his coaching career, and there’s room for him to evolve. For now, Bayern’s explosive offense is a joy to watch, offering fans a thrilling ride. A defensive reset in the January transfer window may reshape their European fortunes. But for a club undergoing yet another cycle of rebuilding, Kompany’s ability to get one side of the ball firing this quickly is already a promising sign of things to come.