Bayern Munich will be desperate to get back to winning ways when they play hosts to Greuther Furth on Sunday.
Bayern Munich have become the talk of the town in European football lately, following their shock 4-2 defeat to newly-promoted VfL Bochum this past weekend. It was followed by an equally disappointing 1-1 draw with Red Bull Salzburg in the UEFA Champions League, putting Julian Nagelsmann in a delicate position.
The 34-year-old has faced brutal criticism due to his tactical decisions and the leaky defence that has made it easier for the opponents to drive past Bayern this season. It will be imperative for Nagelsmann to rectify those issues as Bayern lock horns with yet another newly-promoted team in Greuther Furth this weekend.
Furth are not perceived to be as strong as fellow newcomers Bochum. They are currently at the rock bottom of the Bundesliga table, having collected a total of just 13 points in 22 matches. However, they have lost just once in their last six matches, a run that includes vital wins over 1.FSV Mainz and most recently, Hertha Berlin.
Bayern, in contrast, are sitting pretty at the top of the table, with a six-point lead over second-placed Borussia Dortmund. However, the Bavarians cannot afford another slip-up, knowing it would allow their rivals to bridge the gap to just three or four points. Things won’t be made any easier by a Furth side that are slowly starting to unlock their true potential.
Team News & Tactics
Bayern Munich
Manuel Neuer's rehab is going according to plan. The goalkeeper is doing well. Nevertheless he remains a doubt for the second leg vs. Salzburg. He's also unlikely to feature in March's international games. Neuer wants to be fully fit early April for the CL quarters [@kerry_hau] pic.twitter.com/vwV7uwlcpN
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) February 18, 2022
Bayern Munich are set to remain without the services of influential goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. The German international is unlikely to be available until April. He is joined by Leon Goretzka and Alphonso Davies on the Bayern sidelines, whereas Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman are doubts after picking up fresh knocks this week.
On the bright side, Jamal Musiala could be back in contention after finishing self-isolation. However, the youngster might not be fit enough to start, which means Nagelsmann may have to rely on Marcel Sabitzer to occupy the right sided attacking role.
The former RB Leipzig star will be under pressure to perform as he looks to form Bayern’s creative trifecta alongside Thomas Muller and Leroy Sane. Robert Lewandowski should spearhead the attack as usual, hoping to extend his excellent record of 26 goals in the Bundesliga this term.
Things get interesting in midfield, where Nagelsmann may have no option but to persist with the double-pivot system. Joshua Kimmich is the main number six, partnered by Corentin Tolisso. Marc Roca is another alternative, should the Bayern coach look to offer more freedom for Kimmich on the attacking front.
Defensively, we could once again witness a back-four, with Dayot Upamecano and Niklas Sule forming the central defensive partnership. Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez remain guaranteed starters as the full-backs, whereas Sven Ulreich will deputise for the injured Neuer.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Pavard, Upamecano, Sule, Hernandez; Kimmich, Tolisso; Sabitzer, Muller, Sane; Lewandowski
Greuther Furth
Greuther Furth are missing some key players of their own, including Gideon Jung, Jessic Ngankam and Robin Kehr. But that should not have a significant impact on coach Stefan Leitl’s team selection as he looks to continue with the offensive duo of Jamie Leweling and captain Branimir Hrgota.
Fürth coach Stefan Leitl: "Afraid of Bayern? I'm afraid of nothing. It would be bad if we went to Munich with fear and approached the game like that. It's a highlight to play in Munich against maybe the best club in the world" pic.twitter.com/q0Yloj3c5l
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) February 18, 2022
The two strikers will hope to put pressure on a Bayern defence that has struggled to cope with opposition attackers in recent weeks. It would be equally important for the number ten Jeremy Dudziak to offer adequate support in the final third, although Leitl may also consider bringing in former Bayern Munich winger Julian Green.
Moving into midfield, Furth are expected to persist with their three-man setup, led by Max Christiansen. The 25-year-old offers impressive work ethic in the middle of the park and could form the heart of Furth’s second line of press, alongside Paul Seguin and Timothy Tillman, the older brother of Bayern Munich playmaker Malik Tillman.
As for the backline, the onus will be on the central defensive duo of Sebastian Griesbeck and Nick Viergever to contain Lewandowski and Muller in the final third. Additional support is set to be provided by the full-backs Marco Meyerhofer and Luca Itter, whereas goalkeeper Andreas Linde will be bracing himself for a busy evening between the sticks.
Probable Lineup (4-3-1-2): Linde; Meyerhofer, Griesbeck, Viergever, Itter; Tillman, Christiansen, Seguin; Dudziak; Hrgota, Lewelling
Key Stats
- Robert Lewandowski also had 26 goals at this juncture last term, when he broke the record for most league goals in a season (41). He’s scored six more than the entire Furth team.
- Bayern Munich have lost as many games after 22 matches as in the full 2021/22 campaign (four). They have not suffered five defeats in a season since 2014/15.
- The defending champions have dropped points in five matches this season – all against teams in the bottom half. In contrast, they’ve won 10 of 10 against clubs currently in the top half.
- Fürth have taken one point from 11 away games in this season’s Bundesliga.
- Timothy Tillman featured in 92 games for the Bayern reserves, U19s and 17s, but a Supercup appearance as an unused substitute was as close as he got to the senior side.
Player to Watch
Sven Ulreich
They may be without @Manuel_Neuer, but @FCBayernEN have a ready-made #Bundesliga replacement in Sven Ulreich! ? pic.twitter.com/HFLOIX6Dv8
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) February 18, 2022
Sven Ulreich faced a lot of criticism after conceding four goals against Bochum last weekend. It was followed by a 1-1 result against Red Bull Salzburg, further mounting the pressure on the former HSV goalkeeper, who is currently filling the rather big shoes of the injured Manuel Neuer.
What makes Ulreich a potential misfit in the Bayern side is his inability to come out of his line and mop up balls in behind the backline. It should be an essential feature of any Bayern keeper as the Bavarians generally play with a high backline.
However, Ulreich does have undisputed shot-stopping qualities and will hope to prove himself by producing a solid effort between the sticks against Greuther Furth this weekend.
Prediction
Bayern Munich 3-0 Greuther Furth
The confidence is low in the Bayern Munich camp, thanks to a couple of bad performances against Bochum and Salzburg. The pressure is high on Julian Nagelsmann, and the seemingly growing list of absentees does not bode well for a team that is desperately seeking a win.
However, if anyone knows how to respond to a dip in form, it is Bayern. Their unrivalled winning mentality often comes to the fore in the face of a setback, and there should be no exception this weekend, especially against a Greuther Furth side that are considered the weakest team in the division. As such, we are expecting the Bavarians to seal a comfortable 3-0 victory in this David vs Goliath encounter.
