On Wednesday evening, FC Bayern will face VfL Osnabrück in the DFB Cup. The team has already played its first two competitive matches of the new season and won both. There will likely be a few changes to the lineup against the second-division side.
That’s gradually becoming clear. A return for Jamal Musiala to the roster is considered unlikely, and Serge Gnabry will most likely need a little more time as well. In defense, Vincent Kompany might rotate the lineup a bit; Tom Bischof is also a candidate for a spot in the starting eleven.
Another question that arises is who will start in goal. Jonas Urbig is expected to see playing time this season, and the cup match would, of course, be a good opportunity for him.
Neuer’s Break: Urbig Likely to Start in Goal in Osnabrück
And that seems to be exactly Bayern’s plan. According to the *Abendzeitung*, Urbig is set to play against the second-division team. Manuel Neuer will therefore get a break in the cup. There’s a specific reason for this.
Neuer has a very important match coming up this weekend: a return to his former club, FC Schalke 04. And since Neuer is expected to retire in the summer of 2027, this would be his final return to his old stomping grounds—at least in the Bundesliga.
Last season in particular, Neuer struggled with a number of minor injuries and niggles. At his age, that’s not unusual. However, playing games every three days right from the start of the season would increase his risk of a minor injury, which in turn would raise the likelihood that he might not be able to play against Schalke.
This will please Urbig in particular, who is patiently waiting for his chance. And everyone at the club trusts him anyway, since he has already stepped in for Neuer on several occasions during crucial phases and delivered strong performances.
