Matchday in focus: Spoiled for choice | OneFootball

Bayern have every outfield player available and top-quality options in every position, with Michael Olise hot on the heels of a Thomas Müller record.

Tactics

Now in his second season at Säbener Straße, head coach Vincent Kompany’s preferred formation is a 4-2-3-1 with clear movement patterns, precision passing and high tempo. Bayern are masters of pressing and like to apply pressure on their opponents as early as possible. It stands to reason, then, that they have allowed opposing teams the fewest shots on goal in the Bundesliga this term (216 in total).

Furthermore, they have league-best statistics in terms of passes completed (15,586), clear-cut chances (111), pass completion quota (approximately 90 percent), possession (64.9 percent), shot accuracy (62 percent) and goals scored on the counter-attack (11).

Bayern’s attacking trio of Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Díaz are the division’s most dangerous players in the final third, with more direct goal involvements than anyone else, while team-mate Serge Gnabry is also inside the top ten. 

At the other end of the pitch, centre-back Jonathan Tah has the best pass completion rate in the Bundesliga in 2025/26 with 96.09 percent. 

Alongside Tah, Dayot Upamecano and Minjae Kim vie to play in central defence, while Konrad Laimer and Josip Stanisic compete at right-back and Alphonso Davies, Hiroki Ito and fit-again Raphael Guerreiro are available on the opposite flank, meaning Kompany is spoiled for choice in every position. Indeed, apart from injured goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, the coach has everyone available to him. 

Absentees

Bayern will be without Neuer due to a muscle tear. For Eintracht, Arthur Theate, Can Uzun, Younes Ebnoutalib, Rasmus Kristensen, Ansgar Knauff, Michy Batshuayi (all injured) and Robin Koch (ill) are all sidelined. One to watch: Michael Olise

Olise lends dynamism and creativity to Bayern’s attacks. The 1.84-metre left-footer, who usually operates on the right wing, has been at the record German champions since 7 July 2024.

As he youngster he had spells in the academies at Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Reading FC, and it was at the latter where he made the breakthrough as a pro in 2019.

Olise has been one of the standout players in the Bundesliga this season with ten goals and 16 assists in 21 appearances. 

Michael Olise …

Facts and figures

While Bayern have handed out heavy defeats to most opponents over the years, Eintracht have held their own against them in recent times. In fact, over the past five years the Eagles have picked up at least a point 50 percent of the time, taking three wins and two draws from the last ten Bundesliga meetings.

404: Not a faulty URL, but the league-high number of shots Bayern have taken so far this season.