After a short break in the Bundesliga, Joshua Kimmich is celebrating his comeback in the top Champions League game at Arsenal. Lennart Karl is back in Vincent Kompany’s starting line-up for FC Bayern Munich.
For the second time in a row, the group stage of the Champions League for FC Bayern is: first against second. Unlike the 2-1 win at Paris St. Germain, the Munich team traveled to London as league leaders; Arsenal FC is only in the chasing position because of the fewer goals scored.
The two teams also stand out in Germany and England and are each six points ahead of second place. So it’s also about supremacy in Europe, the winner makes a clear statement because they are undoubtedly the most stable teams on the continent at the moment. And in order to remain number 1, Kompany relies on proven personnel.
Kimmich and Laimer move back into place Bayern starting eleven
Against FC Augsburg, the Bayern coach was without Joshua Kimmich after the midfield boss had not yet completely overcome his ankle problems from the World Cup qualifiers with the German national team – but he will start again in the top game in London. Compared to the Augsburg game, there is also a second voluntary change, Konrad Laimer defends on the left instead of Tom Bischof.
Kompany is also forced to react on the offensive because Luis Diaz is suspended after his red card in Paris. Because Serge Gnabry is fit again after his muscular problems, the coach didn’t have to think too much about it; the national player is in the starting line-up, storming alongside Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Lennart Karl. After his outstanding game against Augsburg (6:2), the youngest Champions League goalscorer in the club’s history once again received Kompany’s trust.
FC Bayern line-up: Neuer – Stanisic, Upamecano, Tah, Laimer – Kimmich, Pavlovic – Olise, Karl, Gnabry – Kane.
Despite the convincing performance in the north London derby in the Premier League against Tottenham Hotspur (3-0), there are also two changes at Arsenal FC – one of which concerns an old Bundesliga acquaintance of Bayern. Piero Hincapie has lost his position as representative of the injured defense chief Gabriel and is only sitting on the bench, with Christhian Mosquera defending for the ex-Leverkusen player. In addition, coach Mikel Arteta is relying on Myles Lewis-Skelly instead of Riccardo Calafiori.
Arsenal FC line-up: Raya – Timber, Saliba, Mosquera, Lewis-Skelly – Rice, Zubimendi – Saka, Eze, Trossard – Merino.