Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Bayern Munich could line up for Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg with Real Madrid.
Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel has an untimely injury crisis to work around for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final with Real Madrid at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday.
The Bavarians overcame Arsenal 3-2 on aggregate to make the final four and will now have Alphonso Davies back in their ranks after the left-back sat out the second-leg beating of the Gunners through suspension.
However, Tuchel’s side took on Eintracht Frankfurt at the weekend without as many as 11 stricken players, including Kingsley Coman (groin), Bouna Sarr (ACL), Gabriel Marusic (ACL), Sacha Boey (hip) and Tarek Buchmann (hamstring), all of whom will definitely miss the first leg too.
In addition, Konrad Laimer and Matthijs de Ligt came off at the weekend with ankle and knee complaints respectively, while Jamal Musiala (tendon), Serge Gnabry (hamstring), Leroy Sane (groin) and Dayot Upamecano (ankle) were missing too.
Tuchel is hopeful that Laimer and De Ligt have avoided serious issues, though, and there was a precautionary element to all of Musiala, Gnabry, Sane and Upamecano’s absences; whether the hosts are prepared to risk them from the off is another matter entirely, though.
As a result, Tuchel should call upon Kim Min-jae to partner Eric Dier in the heart of Manuel Neuer‘s defence, as Joshua Kimmich and Davies – taking Noussair Mazraoui‘s place – take up residence out wide.
Mazraoui could very well switch over to the right if Kimmich partners Leon Goretzka in place of the infirm Laimer, but the exciting teenager Aleksandar Pavlovic should be trusted to man the engine room.
Musiala and Gnabry are believed to have the best chances of making the first XI on Tuesday, where Thomas Muller and Harry Kane – now on 400 career goals – should join them in the attacking third.
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Kimmich, Kim, Dier, Davies; Goretzka, Pavlovic; Muller, Musiala, Gnabry; Kane
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