Sven Ulreich was back in goal for Bayern for the first time in a long while and immediately became a key figure. Now 37, he remains eager to continue in his role, even beyond this season. After the match, however, there were some minor concerns about the veteran’s next appearance.
“When he’s needed, he’s there”—we’ve heard that phrase about Sven Ulreich many times before. When the 37-year-old produced a superb reflex save in stoppage time to deny Ibrahim Maza and prevent the score from becoming 1-2, that phrase likely crossed the lips of many Bayern officials and fans once again. The save wasn’t Ulreich’s only one in a wild match, but it was perhaps the most important. “When you haven’t played for a long time, like I haven’t, it’s different from training,” the keeper told Sky after his first appearance since September 21, 2024 (a 5-0 win in Bremen). “It takes a few minutes to get into the game. In the end, I was in the zone and it was fun.”
Yet the afternoon hadn’t started well for Ulreich at all, as he had to fish the ball out of the net as early as the sixth minute. Of all people, Jonathan Tah, on his return to Leverkusen, had deflected a shot from Aleix Garcia in an unstoppable manner.
Especially after the second red card for Munich’s Luis Diaz, the keeper found himself increasingly in the spotlight. He parried further attempts by Maza and Malik Tillman—and then came that very moment in the seventh minute of stoppage time that secured the point. And with it, Ulreich once again lived up to his reputation as the one who’s always there when needed.
Josip Stanisic agreed: “Being there for us today when he was needed is just incredible, so hats off to him.” The full-back paid “a huge compliment to Ulle,” because: “Anyone who knows his journey and his story knows that he’s not just an outstanding footballer, even though he was always the number two at Bayern Munich.” Ulreich is simply “an amazing guy, and I wish him nothing more than happiness in his life.” Sporting director Max Eberl was also happy for the keeper: “It’s just great for Ulle, who’s always there in training, always there for Manu, and has always given his all for Jonas. Today he was in the spotlight and did a very, very good job.”
Ulreich also received encouragement from Manuel Neuer and Jonas Urbig: “Both guys texted me before the game and were happy that I got to play today and wished me good luck.” The team chemistry is very good, and that’s why the 37-year-old can “easily imagine playing another year,” even if that’s not his decision, of course.
Whether he’ll be able to play in Wednesday’s Champions League Round of 16 second leg in Bergamo was still up in the air on Saturday, however, as Ulreich didn’t take the final goal kick himself—for a reason: “I felt a little something in my thigh.” Urbig, though, is “on the right track; maybe he’ll be able to play again as early as Wednesday, so we’ll just have to wait and see.”
