Top game against Leverkusen
Huge surprise in the Bayern starting line-up
Updated 11/01/2025 – 5:44 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
FC Bayern wants to get their next win against Bayer Leverkusen. The coach is relying on an unusual starting eleven.
Surprise at FC Bayern: Coach Vincent Kompany rotates for the top Bundesliga game against Bayer Leverkusen. Dayot Upamecano, Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Díaz are all on the bench initially. Josip Stanišić and Aleksandar Pavlović also watch at first. Coach Kompany rotated in a total of seven positions compared to the DFB Cup game in Cologne last Wednesday.
For the players rotated to the bench, Lennart Karl, Tom Bischof, Nicolas Jackson and Raphaël Guerreiro, who are otherwise mostly jokers, are moving into the starting line-up. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is also back between the posts.
The complete starting eleven at a glance: Neuer – Guerreiro, Kim, Tah, Laimer – Goretzka, Kimmich – Gnabry, Bischof, Karl – Jackson
There is also a big surprise at Bayer Leverkusen: Alejandro Grimaldo is missing from the starting line-up in Munich. In addition, cup hero Ibrahim Maza is initially on the bench. In addition, four regular central defenders start with Edmond Tapsoba, Loïc Badé, Jarell Quansah and Jeanuël Belocian. It is quite possible that coach Kasper Hjulmand will put the fast Belocian in the left rail position or in a back four.
Compared to the cup game in Paderborn, in which Leverkusen only reached the next round in extra time, there are only three changes. Only Grimaldo, offensive man Jonas Hofmann and winger Eliesse Ben Seghir rotate from the starting eleven. Quansah, Ernest Poku and Claudio Echeverri are there for them.
The Leverkusen starting eleven at a glance: Flekken – Tapsoba, Badé, Quansah – Belocian, Andrich, García, Arthur – Echeverri, Poku – Schick