After dismantling SSV Ulm 4-0 in the opening round of the DFB-Pokal, Bayern Munich is set to kick off the Bundesliga season at Wolfsburg on Sunday. Vincent Kompany has spent the past month tinkering with the lineup combinations but has started to show some favoritism toward certain players.
This monthly series will combine Kompany’s pecking order with on-field performances. The first 11 players aren’t necessarily the starting XI (due to position issues) but players out with injuries will be relegated to the bottom of the list, starting at #23 in this edition.
1) Harry Kane
Kane scored a whopping 44 goals for Bayern last season, including 36 goals in the Bundesliga. He’s a massive favorite to win the Golden Boot again, but he’s got his eyes on the team trophy that has eluded him throughout his professional career.
2) Joshua Kimmich
Kimmich has looked fantastic as an advanced central midfielder. He is completely synced up with Kompany and the rest of the squad. Unless there’s another injury, it looks unlikely that Kimmich will leave the midfield any time soon.
3) Jamal Musiala
Musiala’s preseason has been up and down, but the high press, quick passing system favored by Kompany should play to Musiala’s strengths.
4) Manuel Neuer
Neuer might be the most irreplaceable member of the squad, due to Sven Ulreich’s age and Daniel Peretz’s injury. Despite his international retirement this week, he’s still arguably the best keeper in the world.
5) Min-jae Kim
Bayern shipped out Matthijs de Ligt based on their faith and trust in Kim’s ability to lead the backline. Kim had a solid Hinrunde in his first year at Bayern, but will need to rediscover that consistent form.
6) Dayot Upamecano
Similar to Kim, Upamecano won’t be looking over his shoulder for a few months unless he makes some unthinkable mistakes. Hopefully he can take a similar leap the Antonio Rüdiger made during his mid-twenties.
7) Alphonso Davies
With only a week until the transfer deadline, it looks like Davies will be seeing out the last year of his contract at Bayern. Kompany made it clear that he places a high value on Davies’ unique skill-set.
8) Aleksandar Pavlović
Pavlović had a fantastic offseason and has asserted himself as the complementary piece to Kimmich in the field. The duo has proven to be Kompany’s preferred pairing, but will face stiff competition from the older members of the team itching for playing time.
9) Mathys Tel
Tel was an electric super sub last fall and now looks to have cemented his place as the starting left winger. If he can translate his fearless play into goals and wins, he’ll be a top contender for the Golden Boy award.
10) Serge Gnabry
It’s surprising to see Gnabry this high on the list, but he’s looked healthy for the first time in ages and is one of the players who has earned Kompany’s favor. If only Bayern could play London teams every week…
11) João Palhinha
It will be shocking if Palhinha stays out of the top ten for the rest of the season, but for now he’ll have to prove his mettle against the Bundesliga. It can be a tough transition from the physical competition in the Premier League, but all expectations point to Palhinha finding his footing quickly.
12) Michael Olise
Bayern saved about €10-€20M when they acquired Olise in July, rather than in August. Olise had an incredible showing throughout the Olympics and has looked smoother and more confident than ever. Olise is another candidate to skyrocket up this list as he integrates with the squad.
13) Sacha Boey
With the unfortunate knee surgery to Josip Stanišic, Boey has jumped up the charts as the only true healthy right back on the squad. After arriving during the winter transfer window, Boey only played 109 minutes for Bayern last season. He might surpass that number before the international break.
14) Konrad Laimer
Players like Laimer will always find the pitch, if anything due to pure effort. Laimer’s tenacity and ability to frustrate opponents has been a very useful tool.
15) Thomas Müller
Müller has already intimated that this will be his final season, but it’s unclear how much he will be used. The high press has been the most effective when Müller is organizing from the middle, but his age will prevent him from playing every match.
16) Raphaël Guerreiro
Guerreiro has become a jack of all trades, playing nearly every position but forward and goalkeeper. Unfortunately, that also means he doesn’t have a position locked down either. Guerreiro will earn consistent playing time and be an invaluable role player all season.
17) Kingsley Coman
It’s been four years since Coman cemented his place in Bayern history with the game winning header in the 2020 Champions League final. It’s possible that Coman is transferred or loaned out in the next week, but injuries have plagued Coman’s career and he might have to stay and fight for his place in the squad.
18) Eric Dier
Dier was fantastic on his loan deal from Tottenham during the Rückrunde but is clearly behind Kim and Upamecano in the pecking order under Kompany. Hopefully Dier can break back into the rotation as a solid contributor as the games start to pile up.
19) Leon Goretzka
Goretzka has been one of the hottest topics of conversation as a transfer target, but his high wages and unwillingness to leave Bayern have prevented a move. With the addition of Palhinha, emergence of Pavlović, and excellent play from Kimmich, Goretzka has a steep climb toward quality minutes.
20) Adam Aznou
Aznou had a solid summer and will look to earn 10-15 minutes toward the end of games. With the injuries to Josip Stanišić and Hiroki Itō, Aznou has a good opportunity to make his case. But it’s more likely that veterans like Guerreiro, Laimer, or Kimmich stay ahead of him on the depth chart.
21) Gabriel Vidović
Vidović is another budding prospect on this list but will find minutes hard to come by, except for blowout performances or DFB-Pokal matches.
22) Sven Ulreich
Ulreich has been a great teammate and supporter during Neuer’s reign at Bayern. Once Peretz returns from injury, Ulreich will ride off into the sunset as the third string goalkeeper.
23) Josip Stanišić
Stanišić was sorely missed last season while he was on loan at Bayer Leverkusen. He had won the battle at right back, but an unfortunate knee injury will keep him off the pitch for the next month.
24) Leroy Sané
Sané’s nagging injury finally resulted in surgery after EURO 2024. Thanks to the addition of Michael Olise, the club is planning to hold out Sané through the international break in September.
25) Arijon Ibrahimović
Ibrahimović tore a muscle right before the preseason tour and will be sidelined for a bit. Bayern will make sure he’s 100% healthy to avoid risking a relapse.
26) Hiroki Itō
Bayern kicked off the summer transfer window with a bang by signed Itō away from Stuttgart. Unfortunately, Itō will be out of action until at least October with a metatarsal fracture.
27) Daniel Peretz
Peretz suffered a tendon injury in July and had to withdraw from the Olympics. With a healthy Ulreich able to fill in for Neuer as needed, Peretz won’t be rushed back.
