FC Bayern is set to face FC Schalke 04 in a top matchup on Saturday evening. The game at the Veltins-Arena kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Coach Vincent Kompany’s starting lineup has already been announced.
Following a convincing Bundesliga opener against VfB Stuttgart and a 4-1 victory over Osnabrück in the DFB Cup, FC Bayern faces Schalke 04 on Matchday 2. In this matchup against the newly promoted team, Kompany is fielding the following lineup.
Manuel Neuer will start in goal. After Jonas Urbig was given the start in the DFB Cup match against Osnabrück, the 40-year-old will be between the posts from the start on his return to Schalke.
In front of him, Konrad Laimer, Jonathan Tah, Dayot Upamecano, and Alphonso Davies form the back four.
Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic will start in the double-six.
Brown starts at the number 10 position
On the wings, Kompany is relying on Lennart Karl and Luis Diaz. Michael Olise will therefore start on the bench. In the center of the attack, new signing Nathaniel Brown gets another start. The 23-year-old has already played in this position in the Super Cup against Dortmund and in the Bundesliga opener against Stuttgart, and he certainly made a strong impression.
Ismael Saibari starts up front. Along with Olise, Harry Kane will also begin the match on the bench.
Kompany’s only absence is Serge Gnabry.
At the press conference, the Bayern coach warned against underestimating the task ahead: “We’re the favorites, but we can’t let that go to our heads. It always starts from the very beginning. A good performance against Osnabrück and Stuttgart doesn’t automatically carry over. They can’t be any hungrier than we are. Their anticipation after three years is huge.”
Bayern’s lineup at a glance
Neuer – Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Davies – Kimmich, Pavlovic, Diaz, Brown, Karl – Saibari