One hour until kickoff: We have lineups! Looks like Vincent Kompany will be following in the footsteps of his forebears, as Thomas Müller has once again been benched. Michael Olise makes his starting XI debut for Bayern Munich, in an attack alongside Harry Kane, Jamal Musiala, and Serge Gnabry. The rest of the XI is as expected,
Bayern Munich have a lot to prove this season. After the way last season ended, the controversial hiring of Vincent Kompany, the departures of Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, and the sheer weight of expectations placed on the team — a positive start is practically mandatory.
All eyes will be on the coach. His lineup, his tactics, his substitutions — heck, even his press conferences will be scrutinized for the slightest slip up. Sharing his spotlight will be Harry Kane, who still hasn’t won a trophy since his big move last summer. Thomas Müller will be the focus of longtime fans who just want to see him play a role in what could be his final season. Manuel Neuer, meanwhile, likely fancies a contract extension after all is said and done.
Those are just the top storylines, but don’t forget players like Joshua Kimmich, Kim Min-jae, Serge Gnabry, Dayot Upamecano, and so many others have plenty left to prove. Starting the season with a win would set some criticisms to bed. To do that, you need to prove it on the pitch.
It’s Bayern time.
While you’re waiting for the game, why not check out our our preview podcast! Listen to it below or on Spotify:
Match Info
Location: Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg, Germany
Time: 3:30 pm local time, 9:30 am EST
TV/streaming: ESPN+, Find Your Country
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Hasibur Rahaman is a passionate sports journalist. He covers everything from cricket to field hockey, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis of sporting events, both within India and on the international stage.
