Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller scored in a 2-0 Bundesliga victory over Freiburg on Sunday, marking his 710th match for the club and setting a new record for appearances.
Muller, who came off the bench in the 59th minute with Bayern leading 1-0 thanks to a penalty by Harry Kane, extended the lead with a goal in the 77th minute. The ball, received from Serge Gnabry, skipped past Freiburg goalkeeper Florian Muller.
Muller, who began his Bayern career in 2008, surpassed former goalkeeper Sepp Maier’s record for most appearances across all competitions. “Records don’t matter that much to me … more important is that today I could score a pretty nice goal – one which was technically outstanding,” Muller commented.
Kane had given Bayern the lead with a 38th-minute penalty after a VAR review determined Freiburg captain Christian Gunter had handled the ball. Gunter criticized the decision, calling it “insane” and questioning the fairness of the handball rule.
Kane’s goal was his first of the season, though he was honored for finishing as the Bundesliga’s top scorer last season with 36 goals. In stoppage time, Joao Palhinha committed a handball foul on his Bundesliga debut, but Freiburg’s Lucas Holer missed the ensuing penalty.
Following the match, Muller celebrated with Bayern’s supporters, distributing his boots to the fans and encouraging them to prepare for a demanding season. Bayern coach Vincent Kompany, who has won all three of his matches in charge, praised Muller’s contribution over his 710 appearances.
Freiburg remains without a league win at Bayern, with their record now standing at 25 winless games dating back to 1993.
In other Bundesliga action, Heidenheim’s Paul Wanner, on loan from Bayern, played a key role in a 4-0 victory over Augsburg. The 18-year-old scored a penalty, becoming the youngest player to do so in Bundesliga history, and assisted Adrian Beck’s goal. Leo Scienza and Maximilian Breunig also scored in the match.
Heidenheim, newly promoted to the top division, topped the Bundesliga table for the first time in their history, ahead of RB Leipzig and Bayern on goal difference. Heidenheim will face Chelsea in the Conference League in November as part of their European debut. They secured their position with a win over St. Pauli and a Conference League play-off victory over Hacken.
Leipzig defeated Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 on Saturday, ending the German champions’ 35-match unbeaten league streak dating back to May 2023.
