CL opener v Chelsea: Kompany’s Bayern starting XI revealed | OneFootball

In just under an hour, the ball will start rolling at the Munich Allianz Arena. FC Bayern is kicking off the new Champions League season with a home game against FC Chelsea. We provide you with the line-ups for this CL top match.

After a furious start to the Bundesliga season with three wins from the first three games, Vincent Kompany and his team also want to make a statement internationally and start the new 2025/26 Champions League season with a victory against the reigning Club World Champion FC Chelsea.

In terms of personnel, nothing has changed for the record champion since the 5-0 victory against HSV last weekend. Alphonso Davies (rehabilitation training after cruciate ligament tear), Hiroki Ito (rehab after a metatarsal fracture), and Jamal Musiala (rehab after fibula fracture) are still missing. Additionally, FCB must do without Raphaël Guerreiro. The Portuguese player sustained an abdominal muscle injury against Hamburg and is unavailable.

Pavlovic again preferred in midfield

In front of Manuel Neuer in goal, Kompany has opted for a back four with Konrad Laimer on the right and Josip Stanisic on the left, as expected. In central defense, Jonathan Tah and Dayot Upamecano are set.

In front of them, a double pivot with Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic will be deployed. The 21-year-old is once again preferred over Leon Goretzka in midfield, as was the case against HSV.

In the offense, Michael Olise and Luis Diaz start on the wing positions. In the center, Serge Gnabry, who has been in top form for weeks, begins. Harry Kane is set in the striker position.

Substitutes: Ulreich, Urbig – Kim, Goretzka, Jackson, Bischof, Boey, Kiala, Karl, Santos Daiber

The line-ups at a glance:

FC Bayern: Neuer – Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Stanisic – Kimmich, Pavlovic – Olise, Gnabry, Díaz – Kane

FC Chelsea: Sánchez – Gusto, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Cucurella – James, Caicedo – Pedro Neto, Fernández, Palmer – João Pedro.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.