How will Bayern Munich line up against Mainz?

With the UEFA Champions League removed from the picture, Bayern Munich must focus on winning the Bundesliga. To do this and keep the pressure on Borussia Dortmund at the top of the table, the team needs to put the Liverpool game behind it and focus on Mainz.

Team News

Niko Kovac will be without a few players against Mainz. Arjen Robben will likely not be fit, while Javi Martinez and Serge Gnabry are both doubtful for the game. Corentin Tolisso is expected to be back by the end of March, but he’s still unavailable for selection.

With that in mind, let’s try and guess the lineup. Robert Lewandowski will surely be the striker, and Thomas Müller will return to the lineup in some capacity. Given Bayern’s injury situation at winger, it’s likely that Müller will be on the right wing, with James Rodriguez behind the striker. Kingsley Coman is now fit and can slot in on the left wing, but Franck Ribery may also be an option.

In midfield, with Javi Martinez doubtful, Kovac will probably field his bread-and-butter midfield of Leon Goretzka and Thiago Alcantara. There shouldn’t be any problem with it — after all, the Goretzka-Thiago pairing used to be our go-to setup before Javi Martinez somehow rediscovered his 2013 form at Anfield.

In defense, David Alaba has returned to training after recovering from tendonitis, so he should be fit to play. Mats Hummels and Niklas Sule should reprise their roles as starters, while Joshua Kimmich will return to the lineup.

Here’s how that may all look tomorrow: