/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/38049022/453967962.0.jpg)
The Champions League is less than a week and a half away, and Bayern Munich have released the 25-man roster they will use in 2014:
Goalkeepers | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards |
1 Manuel Neuer 22 Tom Starke 23 Pepe Reina |
4 Dante 5 Mehdi Benatia 13 Rafinha 17 Jérôme Boateng 18 Juan Bernat 21 Philipp Lahm 27 David Alaba 28 Holger Badstuber 30 Mitchell Weiser |
3 Xabi Alonso 6 Thiago Alcântara 7 Franck Ribéry 8 Javi Martínez 10 Arjen Robben 11 Xherdan Shaqiri 19 Mario Götze 20 Sebastian Rode 25 Thomas Müller 31 Bastian Schweinsteiger |
9 Robert Lewandowski 14 Claudio Pizarro 24 Sinan Kurt |
Player List B | |||
29 Leopold Zingerle | 38 Ylli Sallahi | 15 Lucas Scholl 16 Gianluca Gaudino 34 Pierre-Emile Højbjerg |
36 Patrick Weihrauch |
Most of this squad was fairly predictable. Even most of the B list players are the same. There are some significant aspects to this squad though that reveals how Bayern will construct their team sheets throughout the season.
- Bayern is bullish on their injured players, and not just the high-profile ones like Martínez, Thiago, and Schweinsteiger. The fact that Weiser is included in the 25-man squad means that they expect him to be a significant part of their team upon his return. The 20-year-old is in the final year of the 3-year contract he signed upon his transfer from 1. FC Köln, and this will be his last chance to make an impression with Bayern.
- Gaudino and Højbjerg were important parts of Bayern's midfield during the preseason, whether in the center or on the wings. They appear destined for limited playing time as the season cranks up, though, as both find themselves on the reserve player list. This could be a byproduct of Alonso's signing from Real Madrid, pushing the youth down in the squad ranking. The more simpler explanation is that Kurt and Weiser provide better versatility once Martínez, Thiago, and Schweinsteiger return.
- Weihrauch never lived up to his professional contract, but he is still lingering around in the first team picture. He might be just a team sheet filler, but the fact that the 20-year-old is even close to the first team shows that Bayern have not given up on him. He has played just four matches with the reserves, so he will still have no impact with the first team.
Bayern face Manchester City on Septeber 17th at the Allianz Arena, kickstarting another Champions League campaign for the German champions as they look for their sixth title.