Numerous absentees: How Bayern could play against Heidenheim | OneFootball

FC Bayern are set to play their final Bundesliga match of the year when they travel to 1. FC Heidenheim on Sunday. This is the expected line-up

The game kicks off at 5.30 p.m. In the last game before the winter break, Vincent Kompany is likely to rely largely on his regular line-up. After the draw against Mainz, the team will be looking to set an example once again, which means that almost the best possible eleven should line up in the Voith-Arena

Hardly any rotation expected

Jonas Urbig is set to start in goal, with Kompany likely to deploy a back four of Josip Stanisic, Dayot Upamecano, Jonathan Tah and Tom Bischof

Leon Goretzka and Aleksandar Pavlovic should start in central midfield. Alternatively, Bischof could move into midfield for Goretzka, with Sacha Boey or Alphonso Davies taking up the left-back position. However, it is unlikely that Davies will be ready for 90 minutes

In attack, there is much to be said for the trio of Michael Olise, Lennart Karl and Luis Díaz. The Colombian is likely to return to the starting eleven after his break and replace Serge Gnabry, who started in the previous two games. In the center of attack, there is still no way around Harry Kane

photo: IMAGO

Kompany will be without Joshua Kimmich, an absolute key player, as he explained at the press conference on Saturday: „Of course, we’ve had so many games that this pain is too much at some point. It’s not about load management or that we don’t want to take any risks, not at all, but he hasn’t been able to train this week and has actually played his games above the pain threshold.“

Also missing are the suspended Konrad Laimer, Nicolas Jackson, who is at the Africa Cup, Manuel Neuer with a torn muscle fibre and Jamal Musiala, who is still in recovery training. Minjae Kim will also miss out, apparently plagued by muscle and dental problems

The expected Bayern starting XI at a glance: Urbig – Stanisic, Upamecano, Tah, Bischof – Pavlovic, Goretzka – Olise, Karl, Luis Diaz – Kane

Heidenheim boss Frank Schmidt has the majority of his squad available against FC Bayern, with only Sirlord Conteh (back after knee surgery), Leart Pacarada (rehab after a torn cruciate ligament in his left knee) and Budu Zivzivadze (back after knee problems) missing from the squad

Heidenheim’s probable line-up at a glance: Ramaj – Busch, P. Mainka, Siersleben – Traoré, Niehues, Dorsch, Föhrenbach – Beck, Ibrahimovic – Pieringer