Everyday life in the Bundesliga holds the next guest appearance in store for FC Bayern – with numerous personnel issues.
FC Bayern have already played three away games in a row this season, back when it was officially still summer and Harry Kane actually missed a penalty. Admittedly: One of these guest appearances was a friendly in Austria, after which they went to Wiesbaden in the cup and FC Augsburg in the league.
Now, after the energy-sapping comeback win in Freiburg and the energy-sapping quarter-final first leg at Real Madrid, the trip to Hamburg awaits FC St. Pauli, who for their part are fighting for survival in the Bundesliga. And who, incidentally, were only cracked late on by Luis Diaz in the first half of the season.
But as is the case when the team in third last place comes up against the team in first place, the numbers speak for themselves. Bayern are not only one goal short of the all-time record in the league (101), they have also scored more goals in the final quarter of an hour alone this season (30) than their opponents St. Pauli in total (25).
Can coach Vincent Kompany, who turned 40 today (Friday), rotate his squad with a clear conscience and save plenty of strength ahead of the all-important second leg against Real on Wednesday? At least the coach did not give a clear denial. “I don’t know yet,” he explained. “I’d like to get the latest information from training today to see how the lads are feeling.”
It is certainly conceivable that Harry Kane, who has been struggling recently, could be rotated out again, as could Michael Olise, who almost suffered cramp in Madrid, or Serge Gnabry, who could be replaced by Lennart Karl or Jamal Musiala. Several changes in defense are not only conceivable, but also understandable: Alphonso Davies, Min-Jae Kim and Hiroki Ito are available.
In the center of midfield, Tom Bischof has recommended himself for further appearances with his brace in Freiburg, Leon Goretzka and Nicolas Jackson are also fresh and strong alternatives.
In any case, Kompany’s birthday wish is clear, far removed from the Bavarian veal sausage breakfast on Friday: “I would like to have a team tomorrow that can be just as demanding as in Madrid.” That means: “Bringing the intensity, the concentration, the motivation. That’s never normally a problem for us, but I don’t just want to look at the quality of the lads, but how fresh they are so that they perform against Pauli with just as much energy as they did against Real Madrid. No matter what changes we make. If we do that.”