FC Bayern will face 1. FC Köln on Saturday. This raises several questions for Thomas Tuchel. How does the coach set up?
Munich – FC Bayern face 1. FC Cologne in the Bundesliga on Saturday. In terms of sport, it's an explosive story for the guests, as everything is at stake for the billy goats in the fight to stay in the league.
Since Bayern Leverkusen can complete the championship on Sunday, it's just a matter of the bare minimum for the Munich team and getting ready for the quarter-final second leg against Arsenal FC on Wednesday evening in the Allianz Arena. This raises some tricky personnel questions for coach Thomas Tuchel.
Bayern line-up: Leroy Sané is out against 1. FC Köln
Leroy Sané will be out, as the Bayern coach revealed on Friday afternoon in the press room on Säbener Straße. When asked
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, Tuchel then outlined his plan with his offensive star for the coming weeks.
In addition, Serge Gnabry, Bouna Sarr and Sacha Boey will definitely be out. Youngster Aleksandar Pavlovic should get “a few minutes” after tonsillitis and an infection, as Tuchel explained on the PK. The 50-year-old also revealed that both Raphaël Guerreiro and Noussair Mazraoui will be in the starting eleven.
FC Bayern against Cologne: Tuchel announces the starting eleven for Guerreiro and Mazraoui
Of course, Tuchel couldn't fully reveal how exactly he wanted to bring them in. With Alphonso Davies out on Wednesday due to suspension, a new left-back will be “tested” against Cologne. “We have a few options. Either we can switch one-on-one with Raphaël Guerreiro, but Noussair Mazraoui has already played for Morocco," said Tuchel: "I don't know whether both of them can play 90 minutes against Cologne, but we'll give both of them match practice so that they're ready to do for Wednesday.”
It is quite possible that Tuchel will let Guerreiro start attacking on the left, as he did after Gnabry's injury on Tuesday. In general, Tuchel announced one change or another. “We have several days between Cologne and Arsenal. But there is the idea that we should throw in other players and make a few changes," said the Bayern coach: "If we make changes, it's more to give players the rhythm for Wednesday, not to spare them."
Expected Bayern line-up against 1. FC Köln
Neuer - Kimmich, Upamecano, Kim, Mazraoui - Goretzka, Laimer - Coman, Musiala, Guerreiro - Kane
The question also arises in central defense as to whether the duo Matthijs de Ligt and Eric Dier will be spared and whether Dayot Upamecano and Minjae Kim will have another chance to do better than against Heidenheim. “We will only put the puzzle together later,” said Tuchel.
Manuel Neuer, who had to be treated briefly after his collision with Bukayo Saka on Tuesday evening and did not train with the team on Thursday, will definitely be fit. Tuchel said: “I completely understand that he can play.”
(smk)
Florian Schimak reports from Säbener Straße