Alphonso Davies and Dayot Upamecano will be missing from FC Bayern due to injuries. Who can close the gaps in defense?
When Vincent Kompany sets up his team for the first leg in the Champions League quarter-finals, two players who were absolutely set will not be available to him: Alphonso Davies fails with a cruciate ligament tear for the entire remaining seasonAt Dayot Upamecano, free joint bodies were found in the left knee.
Davies and Upamecano: Important supports in the Kompany system
FC Bayern against Inter Milan is missing on April 8 (from 9 p.m. live on the radio -portage at BR24Sport) and probably also in the second leg on April 16, half of the regular defense. A particularly bitter message, there Min-Jae Kim is also currently struck. Currently is also more than unsure whether Manuel Neuer And Aleksandar Pavlovic, both of whom are not responsible for securing their own goal and the game structure, are fit again. Davies and Upamecano also have the same task profile.
The two players have benefited massively from the arrival of Vincent Kompany, have load-bearing roles in the game system of the new FCB coach and not only found their way back to old strength, but also reached new heights this season. In the duel against the Milan attack duo Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram, two difficulties to be managed.
Who replaces Upamecano?
For the dream of the FC Bayern fans from the Champions League final, it should be all the more important that Kim quickly cures the Achilles tendon injury. It is intended to take over the role of the defense chief, which Upamecano has developed over the course of the season.
Dier, ito or a completely different one?
In the event that Kim is ready for use, Eric dier and Hiroki Ito would be the most likely helpers. Dier, mostly overlooked at the beginning of Kompany, has now recommended itself as a reliable alternative with solid services. In the past four Bundesliga games, Dier started from the start. Its big weakness is the game structure, which is why he was attacked in the pressing of Champions League opponents in the pressing last season.
Ito, who missed large parts of the season because of a midfoot break, has a total of 32 minutes as a central defender in the FC Bayern jersey. Company clearly rely on Ito as a left -back. It remains to be seen whether Kompany is familiar with ITO on ITO on ITO.
With Josip Stanisic there is another versatile defender in the squad. The 24-year-old often played central defenders during his loan to Leverkusen, but mostly in a chain of three. At FCB, too, Stanisic was already running as a central defender, even went on a few trips to the left-back position, but feels most comfortable on the right. Leon Goretzka was also used as a central defender at the beginning of the season.
Davies replacement: Guerreiro, ITO and who else?
Alphonso Davies is a constant danger to opposing defenses with his pace dribbles and his crossings. But the Canadian also played a strong season defensively. The offensive component could probably replace Raphael Guerreiro. The 31-year-old has a lot of game practice, was in a good half of all FC Bayern games in the starting line-up, even if he often came as a right-back or even in the offensive midfield. However, Guerreiro repeatedly made uncertainties.
At Ito, the matter is exactly the other way around: defensively reliable, you can expect much less impulses offensive than from Davies or Guerreiro. Alternatives such as Stanisic should only be used in an emergency. The Youngster Adam Aznou and Frans are currently borrowed from Real Valladolid and Heidenheim, where they are regular players. So far, Sacha Boey has only been on the left.
Against Inter: Risk, Security or Damage limitation?
If Kompany does not completely change the system and switch to a chain of three, he will probably choose between ito and guerrreo and thus also between offensive playing style and defensive stability. Of course, only in the event that Kim is ready for use again. Otherwise, the motto in the first leg should be, above all, damage limitation.
And in the Bundesliga, FC Bayern has to be careful not to have too many feathers. After all, the lead over Bayer Leverkusen is only six points. Company does not have many ways to rotate and protect its players.
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Source: BR24Sport on radio 26.03.2025 – 11:55 a.m.
