FC Bayern: This is what Kompany’s starting eleven could look like against Bayer Leverkusen

The first top game of the young season is coming up next Saturday. FC Bayern welcomes Bayer Leverkusen, the reigning German champions, to the Allianz Arena. But what could the lineup look like? Who will grab the coveted seats? Miasanrot does the starting eleven check.

With six wins from six competitive games, FC Bayern got off to the best start to the season under Vincent Kompany. The past week in particular was characterized by an impressive hunger for goals. But now, with Bayer Leverkusen, the first real test of the still young season awaits the record champions. On Saturday at 6:30 p.m. we will see how far FCB has really progressed in its development.

The same applies to Kompany, his tactical ideas, personnel decisions and in-game coaching can be the famous tip of the scales to decide such a top game. The most recent appearance against the reigning German champions in February illustrates this point, when former coach Thomas Tuchel switched to a back three and deployed the inexperienced Sacha Boey as a left wing-back to mirror Alonso’s 3-4-3.

A trick that backfired and even gave the Bayer players a lot of tailwind. Kompany will also think twice about whether and how he adapts his lineup to Leverkusen.

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But what will the Belgian’s starting XI look like after weeks of rotations and changes? Who forms the full-back pairing? Who will take the hotly contested spots on offense? Will the party be the first real João Palhinha game? Miasan red with a forecast.

During the Champions League game against Dinamo Zagreb, Manuel Neuer suddenly felt a twinge in his thigh after a collision. As a precautionary measure, he was replaced by his representative Sven Ulreich at half-time. Five minutes later the Croatians reduced the score to 3-2. Even though the goals conceded were not the fault of the 36-year-old (he even prevented the equalizer with a strong save), Neuer’s absence was immediately apparent.

Ulreich cannot even begin to replace his inimitable presence. Not to mention Neuer’s playmaking qualities, which are particularly necessary against Bayer Leverkusen’s high pressing. In any case, the goalkeeper chain that currently appears frequently at the record champions would not be possible with Ulreich’s limited footballing skills. The substitute keeper also lacks Neuer’s anticipation, which often nips opposing attacks in the bud.

Ulreich has of course proven in recent years how strong he is on the line and that he can (still) save FCB points. The 36-year-old is of course also capable of playing parties against inferior opponents like Bremen. But (a fit) new guy should definitely be used again against Leverkusen.

And it looks like it will, as the multiple world goalkeeper has returned to team training over the course of the week. Even if Kompany emphasized at the obligatory press conference that a final decision would only be made on match day.

Since Josip Stanišić and Hiroki Itō will miss the aforementioned team training for some time, the central defense is currently quickly setting itself up. Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-jae will probably defend together in the seventh competitive game of the season. After a weak start to the season, the two seem to be getting better and better.

Their individual dropouts also seem to be decreasing noticeably. They can now prove themselves in the big spotlight against Leverkusen. The only replacement available was Eric Dier, who, however, had not yet played under Kompany (due to his lack of speed, among other things) and was only used as a joker.

Who Kim and Upamecano are flanking is far less clear. Kompany has several options available to him when it comes to filling the full-back positions. On the left, despite fluctuations in form, there is a lot to be said for Alphonso Davies and his pace, which is needed against Jeremy Frimpong. His competitor Raphael Guerreiro could also be used as a right-back again – as against Zagreb and Bremen – and is the most likely option for this.

The Portuguese presented himself outstandingly offensively and playfully. However, when moving backwards against Zagreb, he repeatedly left gaps. Konrad Laimer would be the more stable defensive option. The Austrian usually interprets the position quite classically, but is technically not at the same level as Guerreiro. A feast for Leverkusen’s pressing, which is why the 27-year-old’s appearance in the starting line-up came as a surprise.

There is also a certain Joshua Kimmich. However, in the last Nations League games, the national team captain proved that he can play the right-back position at a high level. However, it is doubtful whether Kompany will actually rebuild its control center, but it depends on someone else.

Signed as an anchor six for an impressive 50 million euros, João Palhinha currently plays a subordinate role at FC Bayern. In contrast to many fans, the Portuguese waited patiently for his chance. That could have happened against Leverkusen. While his clear-cutting qualities were hardly required by teams like Zagreb or Bremen, the record champions are facing a team on equal footing for the first time this season.

This means that playing against the ball automatically becomes more important. Palhinha could stop Bayer’s offensive power around Wirtz, Boniface and Co. and keep either Kimmich or Aleks Pavlović clear as the clearer. The Portuguese is particularly good at defending large spaces alone and maintaining his position in front of the defense.

However, the interaction between Kimmich and Pavlović actually worked too well to tear the two apart now. The German-Serb relieves Kimmich, who had been overloaded in previous years, in building up the game and impresses with his calmness on the ball and his terrific decision-making. In addition, Kompany deliberately relies on two strong sixes in order to make their own game more dominant and outsmart the opposing press.

There is still the option of converting to a 4-3-3 to use all three. But Kompany had to sacrifice an offensive player to do this, which could deprive FC Bayern of their effectiveness and therefore THE strength of the previous games. In addition, it was precisely such a system change that proved to be Tuchel’s undoing in the previous season.

20 goals within a week speaks volumes. Kompany has breathed life back into the team, especially offensively. Bayern’s front team is in top form early in the season. With Michael Olise, a player also arrived in the summer who is already an enrichment for the record champions without any start-up time. On top of that, all the offensive players are also fit, which is why Kompany is spoiled for choice for the wings alongside the two key players Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala.

With Olise, Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman, Leroy Sané, Mathys Tel and Thomas Müller, the Belgian has six players available for two positions. Nevertheless, the starting places are probably already taken. Gnabry is probably THE winner of the summer preparation and the start of the season. The 29-year-old took advantage of his opportunity under Kompany and, as a left winger, exudes an enormous goal threat (five goals in six games), which Coman and Tel, for example, seem to be lacking at the moment.

For Olise, the Bremen game is already enough to apply for the position as a right winger, Sané still has to get fit after his long injury break and is initially planned as a joker anyway. The good thing about it: Depending on the game situation, Kompany can react to different scenarios with different types of players.

For example, if FCB needs a dribbler to break through a defensive barrier, Coman is available immediately. Or does FCB need an experienced player to get a game over time, Müller would be eager to come on as a substitute. While Tuchel usually only had two reasonably fit offensive players on the bench in the previous season, the Belgian has already had to banish players from the stands. A competitive situation that the record champions have not had for a long time.

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