Three European Games, No German Win: Bayern Fall, Leipzig Hold
A defeat for FC Bayern München, draws for RB Leipzig and VfL Wolfsburg: Germany’s three continental results brought no victory, with Bayern and Leipzig facing decisive work on Wednesday.
Can Germany’s clubs turn a winless European week around? They have one day to wait for an answer in the Champions League, after FC Bayern München lost and RB Leipzig drew in their opening last-16 ties.
Napoli beat Bayern 1-0 on Wednesday, leaving the German side with a deficit to erase when the return is played in Munich on Tuesday. Bayern arrive in Europe after seven consecutive Bundesliga wins, but that domestic run did not travel with them to Italy. The task is plain: win the second leg to keep the tie alive.
Leipzig also drew on Wednesday, 1-1 at home to Rotherham United. The English side now host the return on Tuesday. For Leipzig, a draw leaves the tie open; for Germany, it was the week’s closest thing to a foothold. Four players in the Leipzig squad once represented Bayern, while Markus Hüsing went the other way, from Leipzig to Munich. That history gave the German sides’ separate European nights a small connection. It did not change either score.
VfL Wolfsburg drew 2-2 away to Sparta Prague on Thursday in the UEFA Europa Conference League. Sparta are sixth in the league phase, with 13 points from six matches, behind Sportclub Rheindorf Altach on goal difference and ahead of FC Zürich by one point. The result keeps the German club’s European account level for the week, but the standings offer no further detail on Wolfsburg’s position.
So the week’s return is zero wins, two draws and one defeat. Bayern must find a response at home; Leipzig have a tie still to settle away. Germany’s continental campaign has not collapsed. It has simply failed to give its supporters a result to celebrate.