Young Blood or Classic Kovac? Four ways Bayern Munich could line up this season

Bayern Munich are looking to defend their Bundesliga title for the sixth straight season.

The Bavarians have won the German top flight for the last six years, and winning it this year would be their seventh consecutive triumph. That is remarkable dominance by anyone’s standards, but this summer has been one of cautious activity with only one player being signed and that being on a free transfer.

But Bayern’s veteran-heavy squad was so strong anyway that even with the lack of transfer activity they are still in a good position to compete once the Bundesliga gets underway this season. They’ve already won the DFL-Supercup in dramatic fashion, but how could they line-up as the season progresses into the more serious matches?

Bundesliga Bashers

Bayern have the Bundesliga on lock. They could win it, if not in their sleep then at the very least only half-paying attention. As a result they can afford to leave out some key players in order to protect them for the Champions League, and perhaps play with more attacking gusto than one would normally expect.

Obviously Manuel Neuer is in goal and the back four pretty much picks itself, which Kimmich and Alaba out wide, the Austrian looking born again after suffering under Ancelotti and Kimmich continuing his ascension to the chance-creation-king of the Bundesliga. Sule replaces Boateng (who Bayern have actively tried to sell) alongside Hummels, anchoring defence.

Tolisso holds midfield, moreso for his passing ability as there is no side against which Bayern will not dominate the ball. Ahead of him Thomas Muller and James Rodriguez take-up unorthodox centre-midfield roles. James becoming an all-purpose creator whilst Muller is free to raid forward and find space.

Out wide the ageless Arjen Robben and Kingsley Coman provide width and pace, serving Robert Lewandowski up-front with chances galore. The Polish striker is absolutely world-class when supplied with decent balls (which he wasn’t at the World Cup) and should have another fantastic season in Bavaria.

Die Meister, Die Besten

Sometimes, in the big games, you need a little more. Bayern’s quest to win the Champions League has been unsuccessful these last few years, but now with their squad they will hopefully be able to rotate a bit so the can be at full-strength in Europe.

That firstly entails bringing injury-prone colossus Javi Martinez in at the base of midfield. The Spaniard has been brilliant for Bayern and having him there would allow the Bavarians to be more solid in midfield or he could drop between the defenders and they could send both full-backs high at the same time, allowing their wingers to then cut inside.

Speaking of wingers, on the left the fabulous Franck Ribery enters the fold. The 35 year-old will have been wrapped in cotton wool and be ready to rip opponents apart with his uncanny dribbling skills and create chances for Lewandowski. Meanwhile Thomas Muller has dropped to the bench as Corentin Tolisso (or Thiago Alcantara) take their place next to James Rodriguez in a more solid midfield.

Classic Kovac

Last season Niko Kovac played 3-5-2 with Frankfurt and did it so well they made it to back-to-back DFB-Pokal finals, winning the latest one (against Bayern Munich!) so he knows how to use this formation well. In defence we bring Jerome Boateng back to play with Sule and Hummels, placing the young stud in the centre so he can cover for his elder team-mates.

Martinez again holds midfield, although this time has more license to push forward as Thiago Alcantara, Bayern’s best passer, will be next to James in midfield. Thiago will look to run the show as Alaba and Kimmich will fly forward unrestrained by defensive issues and create chances upon chances for the forwards.

And the forwards? Well at Frankfurt he had Sebastien Haller, a tall and powerful target man who everyone played off. And at Bayern he has Sandro Wagner, a tall and powerful target man who everyone can play off. So this formation then becomes useful as it would allow Bayern to rest star striker Lewandowski, as Wagner partnered with Thomas Muller and backed up by so many vibrant attackers could be quite potent.

Young Blood

Bayern are, in general, a very old team. But they have young talent available too, even if in some cases that youth is contextual. Christian Fruchtl goes in goal, whilst Kimmich and Sule retain their slots from the main sides (they’re both so young it’s almost ridiculous). Next to Sule is the tall Lars Lukas Mai, and on the left is misfit Juan Bernat who, if he could just stay fit, could prove useful again.

28 year-old Sebastian Rudy holds a three-man midfield next to young prospects Renato Sanches and Leon Goretzka. The Portuguese is desperate to finally make good on his enormous potential whilst Goretzka, the club’s only signing this summer, adds verticality and threat to an already dynamic midfield.

Out wide the lightning fast Kingsley Coman and the tricky, inventive attacking midfielder Meritan Shabani will dovetail with Serge Gnabry in a floating forward role to use their pace, movement and skill in order to bamboozle the opponent.

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