After the successful comeback in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match versus Lazio this week, Bayern Munich shift their focus to a domestic matchup against relegation-threatened Mainz 05. It will be important to begin to string several successive wins together, in order to reach a good form in time for the Champions League quarterfinals. Last Word on Football brings you our Bayern Munich predicted lineup for the game against Mainz.
Bayern Munich Predicted Lineup vs Mainz 05
💬 Tuchel on the fitness of Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman:
"Serge was a key player for us at the start of the season, but there's no point in rushing him – these things take time. If everything goes well, we're expecting Kingsley to be back after the international break."… pic.twitter.com/CXZFogH7OV
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) March 8, 2024
How Bayern Munich Have Lined Up Recently
In that pivotal 3-0 victory over Lazio, Bayern started the game with Manuel Neuer in goal. Joshua Kimmich and Raphael Guerreiro were the outside backs. Eric Dier played alongside Matthijs de Ligt in the centre of defence. Meanwhile, Leon Goretzka played the holding role next to Aleksandar Pavlovic, as Leroy, Thomas Müller, Jamal Musiala, and Harry Kane made up the front four.
Coach Thomas Tuchel did not make many changes to his team recently. He only made adjustments, where injuries or suspensions forced his hand. For the game against Lazio, he reverted to the starting lineup he had picked against RB Leipzig on February 24. That means two changes to the place from the game against Freiburg on March 1. De Ligt replaced Kim Min-jae, after returning from yellow card suspension. At the same time, Sané regained his fitness enough to start instead of the youngster Mathys Tel.
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Tuchel may keep squad rotation to a minimum from now on. We will certainly make our line of predictions with that in mind.
At the pre-match press conference, the coach was asked why Bryan Zaragoza had not played more than once, since his arrival from Spain in January. Tuchel bizarrely blamed the language barrier as Zaragoza’s main problem, as the player speaks neither German nor English. What makes this so strange is the fact that Zaragoza came to Munich six months early, in hopes of replacing the injured Kingsley Coman. Yet somehow, he wasn’t the short-term solution he should have been.
Bayern Munich Recent Form and Tactics
The Bavarians still only have two wins from their last six competitive outings, but there is certainly now a newfound belief in the team, after what may easily have been the best performance of the season on Tuesday. One can only hope that that belief can take on a life of its own and perhaps even carry the team far in the Champions League competition. But it is of course far too soon to talk about that. For now, the Bavarians must first regain their form domestically.
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Earlier we mentioned Tuchel’s reluctance to change the lineup. The same is likely true of tactics and formations, so 4-2-3-1 remains the way to go.
Bayern Munich Injuries to Consider
Sacha Boey, Bouna Sarr, Noussair Mazraoui, and Coman remain injured. However, Tuchel did indicate at the above-mentioned press conference that he expects the French winger back after the international break later this month. Meanwhile, Serge Gnabry has returned from having missed months as well, but he will be guided back to fitness cautiously. Beyond, that Aleksandar Pavlovic is out through yellow card suspension.
Bayern Munich Predicted Lineup vs Mainz 05
Neuer, Kimmich , de Ligt, Dier, Guerreiro, Laimer, Goretzka, Sané, Müller, Musiala, Kane.
