In just over an hour, the ball will be rolling at FC Bayern’s Bundesliga away match at RB Leipzig. Coach Vincent Kompany will have to fall back on an emergency solution, particularly in defense, for the second half of the season.
With Konrad Laimer, Josip Stanisic and Sacha Boey missing a complete trio of right-backs, Vincent Kompany has come up with an unusual solution by deploying Tom Bischof on the left side of defence while Serge Gnabry helps out on the right.
Captain Manuel Neuer starts in goal, with Gnabry, Dayot Upamecano, Jonathan Tah and Tom Bischof forming the back four. Upamecano returns to the first eleven after his break in Cologne. Alphonso Davies is back in the squad after recovering from the flu, but will not start for the time being. Boey is still officially off sick and a winter departure is on the cards.
In central midfield, Kompany has selected Aleksandar Pavlovic and Leon Goretzka, with the 29-year-old returning to the starting line-up after his starter’s appearance in Cologne. In attack, Michael Olise, Lennart Karl and Luis Diaz start behind centre-forward Harry Kane, with Karl once again in the starting line-up after his wildcard goal against Cologne.
The eagerly awaited comeback is on the cards
Jamal Musiala is back in the squad for the first time in over six months. The attacking player will be carefully introduced after his long injury lay-off. A brief appearance in the final phase is possible. Joshua Kimmich and Alphonso Davies are also available as alternatives.
In addition to Konrad Laimer, Josip Stanisic and Sacha Boey, Nicolas Jackson, who is still involved in the Africa Cup, is not in the squad.
The line-ups at a glance
FC Bayern: Neuer – Gnabry, Upamecano, Tah, Bischof – Pavlovic, Goretzka – Olise, Karl, Diaz – Kane
FC Bayern substitutes‘ bench: Urbig – Minjae Kim, Kimmich, Musiala, Davies, Guerreiro, Mike, Chávez, Santos Daiber
RB Leipzig: To follow shortly