Karl Jakob Hein’s Bundesliga debut came in dramatic fashion. Werder Bremen’s first-choice goalkeeper, Germany U21 international Mio Backhaus, had been sidelined with a shoulder injury in training, handing the young Estonian an unexpected opportunity – and Hein made the most of it, even as Bayern Munich claimed a 4-0 victory at the Allianz Arena.
Thrown into the deep end against one of Europe’s elite sides, Hein was immediately tested, producing a sharp early save against Harry Kane in the fifth minute. The opener arrived in the 22nd minute when Jonathan Tah flicked on a cross and Luis Díaz converted, leaving Hein with no chance.
Undeterred, Hein continued to impress, repelling another Kane attempt and showing poise and agility in one-on-one situations. Just before halftime, he cleared a threatening ball from Michael Olise and tipped away a Serge Gnabry strike, only to see Kane convert a penalty moments later, sending Bayern into the break 2-0 ahead.
The second half saw Kane strike again – his 100th goal for Bayern Munich – before Konrad Laimer sealed the 4-0 win with a precise finish. Despite the scoreline, Hein’s performance stood out: he made eight saves in total, five from inside the box.
The debut was a statement of Hein’s potential, a chance created by Backhaus’ misfortune that he seized fully. Werder Bremen’s next challenge comes on Saturday, when they host St. Pauli – currently represented by Hein’s injured Estonia teammate, Karol Mets.
