As the ball starts rolling for the new season, Bayern Munich will travel to Signal Iduna Park to face DFB Pokal champions Borussia Dortmund. The Bavarians didn’t find it easy to overcome Dortmund last season, winning only one competitive fixture in three matches.
Carlo Ancelotti aims to put an end to the dismal record against Dortmund by clinching the DFL Supercup on 5th August. Here’s the predicted Bayern Munich lineup to show up against Peter Bosz’s men.
Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer’s absence would be a huge blow for Bayern. Second choice Sven Ulreich will fill in the gap left by the new Bayern captain. Ancelotti, meanwhile, will be hoping to get back the services of their number one goalkeeper soon enough.
Right Back: Following Philipp Lahm’s departure, the onus is on Rafinha to deliver the goods. The Brazilian full-back has been in good form in the pre-season. It remains to be seen how he copes with the pressure of replacing Lahm.
Centre Back(R): Javi Martinez’s poor form leading up to the new season should be a cause for concern. The Spanish central defender’s lack of pace was well utilized by the likes of Milan, Napoli etc. Dortmund might look for a similar strategy, especially with the pace they have in the offensive department.
Centre Back(L): Mats Hummels will partner Javi Martinez in central defence. The former Dortmund defender didn’t have a great record against the Black and Yellows last term, just like his manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Left Back: There are doubts over David Alaba’s fitness and whether he will be able to feature against Dortmund. If he remains on the sidelines, youth prodigy Marco Friedl could be an interesting option for Carlo Ancelotti. The 19-year-old was part of the Bayern Munich training camp throughout this pre-season.
Central Defensive Midfield(R): Arturo Vidal will lead the midfield for FC Bayern. The Chilean midfielder needs to find his rhythm if he, once again, wants to prevail as a strong midfield force for his side.
Central Defensive Midfield(L): We expect new signing Corentin Tolisso to form the double pivot with Arturo Vidal. The newcomer from Lyon has so far, failed to deliver in pre-season. With Thiago not available, Tolisso would be vital for the Bavarians.
Right Wing: Arjen Robben might not be fit enough to play, therefore Kingsley Coman will be an option for Carlo Ancelotti. The Frenchman failed to perform under the Italian last season but will be looking for an upturn in fortunes.
Central Attacking Midfield: James Rodriguez is ruled out of the clash due to a hamstring injury. Thomas Müller is expected to start from the CAM position. The German International made quite a lot of chances playing in a similar position last season.
Left Wing: Franck Ribéry showed the willingness to play a key role for his team. The 34-year-old looked to be in his groove during the pre-season. Dortmund will have a huge problem on their hands if Ribéry starts to fire on all cylinders.
Striker: Robert Lewandowski will lead the charge for Bayern. The Polish international was on the brink of securing two back to back törjagerkanone crown but was overtaken by Aubameyang at the last moment.
