Shortly before the next highlight game, Vincent Kompany is making significant changes to his team. FC Bayern will be missing several familiar names for the away game in Mainz.
Joshua Kimmich and Dayot Upamecano will not be in the squad for the away game against 1. FSV Mainz 05. The reason: both regular players will get a break and will be rested. After the intense cup evening in Leverkusen and ahead of the Champions League semi-final at Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, Kompany will be managing the workload of his professionals in a targeted manner.
During the week, Munich qualified for the DFB Cup final with a 2-0 win at Bayer Leverkusen. The record champions invested heavily in the BayArena and had to remain focused until stoppage time before Luis Díaz finally decided the game. The next task follows just a few days later in Mainz before Bayern travel to Paris.
Kompany will therefore also use the game to give several key players a break. Kimmich has been called upon heavily in midfield in recent weeks, while Upamecano is also one of the team’s mainstays in central defence. Both will be given a chance to gather strength against Mainz, while other players will get their chance.
Kompany spares other regulars ahead of Paris trip
The Bayern coach also makes numerous changes to the starting XI, with Jonas Urbig starting in goal and Konrad Laimer, Minjae Kim, Hiroki Ito and Alphonso Davies defending in front of him. Aleksandar Pavlovic and Leon Goretzka start in midfield to provide stability in the center.
In attack, Kompany will rely on Raphaël Guerreiro, Bara Sapoko Ndiaye and Luis Díaz behind Nicolas Jackson. Harry Kane, Jamal Musiala and Michael Olise will initially sit on the bench. Jonathan Tah will also be given a break after the cup game in Leverkusen and may become an option in the course of the match.
It’s a special afternoon for Ndiaye: the 18-year-old is making his starting debut for Bayern’s professionals. Several youngsters – Bastian Assomo, Filip Pavić and Deniz Ofli – are also included in the squad. Kompany is thus combining the necessary rotation with the chance to give talented youngsters from his own squad a taste of matchday football with the pros.
