FC Bayern’s roster isn’t particularly deep for the 2026–27 season either. Nevertheless, there’s a certain level of competition, thanks in large part to a few versatile players. This is true in midfield as well.
It comes as no surprise that Joshua Kimmich is a fixture here. As vice-captain of the record-holding champions, he sets the tone and acts as something of an extension of the coach on the field.
He plays the leading role in the center, usually alongside Aleksandar Pavlovic, who has made great strides in recent years. However, Tom Bischof is also expected to become increasingly important. The player, who joined from Hoffenheim in 2025, has now settled in very well.
Bischof fuels the competition
In the DFB-Pokal away victory at VfL Osnabrück, Bischof started his first game of the season. The midfielder impressed, fought hard for the ball, was involved in many plays, and scored the goal that made it 2–1.
His teammates are convinced of the midfielder’s quality. “He’s the kind of player who always wants the ball and is a great asset to our game,” Kimmich gushed when asked by the Abendzeitung München.
However, the overall pecking order remains unchanged for now. When asked specifically about Pavlovic—who “has been playing very strongly for the second or third season now”—sports director Christoph Freund sidestepped the question: “But Tom is a German U21 national team player and is on the right track. They’ll definitely push each other very hard.”
So Bischof will continue to be more of a challenger and rotation player, but he’ll keep applying constant pressure. “He’ll get plenty of minutes and is an important player for us. We’re glad to have a player of his caliber,” Freund concluded. This means that Bischof is being given a lot of trust, but of course—and this is nothing new at FC Bayern—he’ll have to deliver as well.
