FC Bayern kicks off the new Champions League season against Bodo/Glimt. After rotating the lineup against Schalke, Vincent Kompany is likely to field his star players again.
Finally, the Champions League is back! On Thursday evening, FC Bayern kicks off the new Champions League season. To open the group stage, the German record champions will host Bodo/Glimt at the Allianz Arena. Kickoff is at 9 p.m.
After a disappointing 0-0 draw at FC Schalke 04, the Munich side is looking to kick off Europe’s premier club competition with a win. Vincent Kompany heavily rotated his lineup at Schalke, initially leaving Harry Kane and Michael Olise on the bench, among others. Against Bodo/Glimt, the Bayern coach is likely to field a lineup much closer to his current first-choice squad.
In goal, there’s no getting around captain Manuel Neuer. No major experiments are expected in the back four either. Konrad Laimer is likely to start on the right, while Alphonso Davies is a sure bet on the left. In central defense, there’s a strong case for the pairing of Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah.
In central midfield as well, Kompany could once again rely on his tried-and-true duo. Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic are the most likely candidates for the holding midfield roles.
Kane and Olise are expected to return to the starting lineup
Things get more interesting when it comes to the attacking trio. Michael Olise is likely to start on the right wing again after sitting out the Schalke match. Luis Diaz is expected on the left.
Ismael Saibari could get his chance in the playmaker role. The new signing started on the bench in the 0-0 draw at Schalke and came on as a substitute after 57 minutes. Against Bodo/Glimt, there are good reasons to believe Kompany will once again rely on the Moroccan. Nathaniel Brown, who started behind the striker against Schalke, would thus initially be a candidate for the bench.
Jamal Musiala is also, in principle, available to Kompany again following his comeback at Schalke. However, after his extended break, the focus for him is likely to remain on a cautious return to full fitness. Another appearance as a substitute therefore seems more likely than a return to the starting lineup.
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In the center of the attack, Harry Kane is expected to return to the starting lineup. The Englishman was initially rested against Schalke and didn’t enter the game until the second half. Against Bodo/Glimt, the striker is likely to lead the Bayern offense from the start once again.
Serge Gnabry, however, remains unavailable to Kompany. Otherwise, the Bayern coach has numerous options for the Champions League opener and can bring on players like Musiala, Brown, Lennart Karl, or Tom Bischof as the game progresses.
The visitors from Norway are traveling to Munich brimming with confidence. Bodo/Glimt has won its last four competitive matches in a row and prevailed 2-1 against Fredrikstad FK in its final warm-up match. Bayern are therefore on notice—and, following the rotation at Schalke, are likely to start this time with their full offensive firepower.
Predicted lineups at a glance:
FC Bayern: Neuer – Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Davies – Kimmich, Pavlovic – Olise, Saibari, Luis Diaz – Kane
Bodo/Glimt: Haikin – Sjovold, Nielsen, Bjortuft, Bjorkan – Auklend, Berg, Fet – Blomberg, Helmersen, Brynhildsen