In around an hour’s time, FC Bayern will host 1. FSV Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga. We bring you the starting line-ups for the game.
After the 2-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen, which secured Munich’s ticket for the DFB Cup final in Berlin, the record champions now continue their Bundesliga campaign. With an eye on the upcoming Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain, coach Vincent Kompany is relying on rotation in Mainz.
Despite having already secured the German championship, FC Bayern still have an important phase of the season ahead of them. The Munich side want to maintain their rhythm, but at the same time conserve their strength. In view of the enormous workload in the coming days, Kompany will be without several regulars in his starting line-up.
Compared to the cup semi-final in Leverkusen, Vincent Kompany makes eight changes to his starting XI. Jonas Urbig starts in goal in place of Manuel Neuer, with Konrad Laimer, Minjae Kim, Hiroki Ito and Alphonso Davies forming the back four.
Kompany will rely on Aleksandar Pavlovic and Leon Goretzka in central midfield, while Joshua Kimmich is not in the squad and Dayot Upamecano is also missing.
Kane on the bench for now
The Bayern coach also makes some changes in attack, with Raphaël Guerreiro starting on the right and Luis Díaz on the left. Bara Sapoko Ndiaye takes up the central role behind Nicolas Jackson, who starts in the center of attack. Harry Kane, Jamal Musiala and Michael Olise are initially on the bench.
Kompany will also use the game to manage his defensive workload. Jonathan Tah will be given a break after the intense cup game in Leverkusen and will be sidelined for the time being. In addition, several campus talents – Bastian Assomo, Filip Pavić and Deniz Ofli – will move into the squad. Assomo in particular will be in focus: the attacker, who is only 16 years old, is part of Munich’s professional squad for the first time.
The line-ups at a glance
Mainz 05: To follow shortly
FC Bayern: Urbig – Laimer, Kim, Ito, Davies – Pavlovic, Goretzka – Guerreiro, Ndiaye, Díaz – Jackson
Bayern substitutes bench: Neuer, Tah, Kane, Musiala, Olise, Assomo, Ofli, Pavić, Stanisic