Bayern Munich starting right-back Konrad Laimer has been sidelined with a calf tear sustained in Wednesday’s 3-1 victory over FC Köln that will keep him out of action for ‘three to four weeks’ — creating
a selection headache for Vincent Kompany just as the new year starts up.
Laimer’s injury compounds matters as it was only in the prior contest, an 8-1 demolition of VfL Wolfsburg, that the Bavarians lost versatile defender Josip Stanišić to an ankle injury that will keep him out a similar amount of time. And Sacha Boey is also out with illness.
After navigating the Hinrunde without the services of its top two left-backs, Bayern begins the Rückrunde without three right-backs. Who steps up? Here are the options:
- Joshua Kimmich
- Hiroki Itō
- Tom Bischof
- Leon Goretzka
- Raphaël Guerreiro
- Harry Kane (kidding…unless???)
Of these, Kimmich is by far the closest thing Bayern has to a natural right-back. The position was his for club and country before he made the switch to midfield, and though he prefers operating more centrally, the Germany captain is capable of pulling the strings from right-back — and might naturally invert further up the pitch in a system that can easily accommodate that. And Bayern has the cover in midfield: Aleksandar Pavlović and Leon Goretzka started in the pivot against Köln.
Of course, Kimmich is also injured and while he is closer to return, probably should not rush himself back to the pitch.
In the meantime, Guerreiro is the other logical name that stands out. The Portuguese international is versatile, playing all over the pitch in his time at Bayern, from either full-back position to central and attacking midfield. However, with age, he has become an increasing liability in defense on the flanks.
So how about some unorthodox options? Against Köln, Hiroki Itō took up intriguing positions. Though a left-footer, Itō is dynamic on the ball and stepped up into central positions in the second line of attack, allowing Leon Goretzka to roam across the pitch as Bayern attempted to pull apart the opposition shape. Could he do the same from the right? What about Tom Bischof, the confident young midfielder — also left-footed — who has been cross-training with cameos at left-back? Or even Leon Goretzka, who is no stranger to filling in on the left side of the back line even when his nominal position is in midfield. Could he try the same from the right, and re-make himself much as Laimer — another central midfielder by trade?
However Bayern goes about this, there is fortunately some time to experiment. Two Champions League league phase matches remain before the knockouts and the Bavarians are in dominating form in the Bundesliga table. The next DFB-Pokal knockout match, a quarter-final vs. RB Leipzig, is not until February 11. Perhaps in injury, there is opportunity: for Bayern to figure out another look to stash away in its locker, or for a squad player to make his case to stick around the team.
Bayern’s next test comes in league action this Saturday, on the road at Leipzig.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
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