Bayern Munich predicted lineup vs Arminia Bielefeld - Bundesliga
Bayern Munich have the chance to bounce back from a surprise Champions League exit on Tuesday night with an away day at Arminia Bielefeld in the Bundesliga on Sunday.
Julian Nagelsmann ranked Bayern's elimination against Villarreal "as one of my top three defeats". The young manager pinpointed the club's first-leg defeat in Spain as the epicentre of their downfall, stressing the "good tactics" his side employed back in Bavaria only to concede in the 88th minute to Samuel Chukwueze.
Here's the lineup Nagelsmann may deploy in a bid to quash some of that disappointment on their return to league duty.
1. Goalkeeper & defenders
Manuel Neuer (GK) - The brash warning of "we're not to be messed with" that Bayern's skipper delivered ahead of the second leg fell flat by Tuesday evening.
Benjamin Pavard (RB) - The World Cup-winning fullback wasn't alone in his frustration in midweek, admitting: “It really pisses us off to be eliminated."
Tanguy Nianzou (CB) - In the potential absence of Niklas Sule and Lucas Hernandez, the teenage defender could earn a fourth consecutive Bundesliga start, extending what has already been his best run in the side.
Dayot Upamecano (CB) - Only two outfield players have made more errors leading to opposition shots in this season's Bundesliga than the former RB Leipzig centre-back (per FBref).
Alphonso Davies (LB) - Having recovered from a heart condition raised after contracting COVID-19, "Bayern's Roadrunner" - to borrow Thomas Muller's nickname for Davies - could be poised to make his first league start in four months.
2. Midfielders
Joshua Kimmich (CM) - Despite missing two months of the campaign with COVID-19 complications, Kimmich has still completed the most passes that move his team ten or more yards closer to goal in the Bundesliga.
Leon Goretzka (CM) - The returning driving force of Bayern's midfield hasn't completed a Bundesliga match since November while struggling with a lengthy hip injury.
Thomas Muller (AM) - Bayern's Raumdeuter has created 56 top-flight goals in the last three years alone - the same tally as Philippe Coutinho has mustered across his entire senior career in European league football.
3. Forwards
Serge Gnabry (RW) - Bayern's second-top scorer this season failed to touch the ball once in his nine-minute cameo against Villarreal. Hopefully, he'll provide more of an impact from the start this weekend.
Robert Lewandowski (ST) - In the wake of defeat, Bayern's CEO Oliver Kahn was quick to quash the "nonsense" rumours surrounding Lewandowski's supposedly imminent departure. Wherever he may be next season, this weekend he will surely line up against Arminia.
Leroy Sane (LW) - The reborn winger hasn't scored or provided a goal in his last six appearances for Bayern but may click back into gear if Nagelsmann swaps him back to his favoured left flank.