"Far bigger than just three points" - Eberl hails Bayern's remarkable victory over Freiburg

Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl believes Sunday's 3-1 victory over SC Freiburg represents something far greater than three Bundesliga points, following an extraordinarily difficult week for the reigning champions.

Having been held to a 2-2 draw by Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday, Bayern travelled to the Europa-Park Stadion without several key players and head coach Vincent Kompany, who remains hospitalised following his collapse on Friday.

Nevertheless, the visitors delivered an impressive performance, establishing a two-goal advantage through Dayot Upamecano and Serge Gnabry before surviving a late Freiburg fightback.

Michael Olise eventually sealed the victory in the fifth minute of stoppage time, ensuring Bayern returned to the top of the Bundesliga table.

Speaking to DAZN after the contest, Eberl was full of praise for the resilience displayed by the players and coaching staff.

"I don't think we even realise yet what we've really achieved today," Eberl admitted.

"After the week we've experienced, with all the hurdles we've had to overcome, the injuries and then the news about Vinnie on Friday, which really hit all of us extremely hard.

"What the team achieved today, what we achieved as a group, including the coaching staff around them, who suddenly lost their figurehead, is really extraordinary.

"Today's victory gives us three points, but it's a far bigger victory than just three points."

Eberl was particularly impressed by Bayern's performance in the opening 80 minutes, before acknowledging that their failure to extend the lead made the closing stages unnecessarily difficult.

"I think the team played an almost perfect away game for 80 minutes," he said.

"Almost, because we didn't take our chances to make it 3-0, and that's how you end up in trouble again.

"But the way we defended in the last nine minutes, how determined we were to hold on to that 2-1 lead and then deservedly make it 3-1, makes it a really big victory."

With Bayern's coaching staff temporarily operating without Kompany, Eberl also highlighted the importance of maintaining the Belgian's structure.

"Vinnie has worked incredibly hard here for two and a half years. He has his coaching staff around him, and they know exactly how he thinks, how he works and how he wants things done.

"A hugely important figure for our sporting success is currently out of action. Now we have to pull together.

"Everyone has to give those extra three, four or five per cent. It's a rather simplistic phrase, but we have to stick together."

Eberl then reserved further praise for the coaching staff, including Aaron Danks and Rene Maric, who have been tasked with guiding the team in Kompany's absence.

"The team, together with the coaching staff, did a really outstanding job in such a short space of time, with the news we received."

Now, Bayern prepare for the visit of Magdeburg in the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday, before next weekend's clash against rivals Borussia Dortmund at the Allianz Arena.