Lennart Karl may be hitting that rookie wall
In an ironic twist, Bayern’s recent struggles have seemingly coincided with a drop in form from none other than teenage sensation Lennart Karl, and this is in no way meant to point fingers at the 17-year-old. If anything, it highlights the fact that towards the end of 2025, Karl was performing at a level higher than expected for his age and experience.
Karl was a difference maker for Bayern in more than one game during the Hinrunde when options in the attack were limited. With Jamal Musiala back in the picture, Karl’s role isn’t expected to expand in the near future. In any event, it’s not uncommon for the performances of a young debutant, such as Karl, to plateau around the mid-way point of the season before gaining ascendancy later in the season.
Conclusion
As disappointing as the results have been in the last two Bundesliga games, it would still be somewhat premature to draw any conclusions. However, after a week’s rest, if Bayern don’t win at home in a convincing manner against third-placed Hoffenheim on 8 February, then Vincent Kompany should be concerned about teams figuring out his system.