Bayern Munich head into their first DFB-Pokal match of the season with five changes to the starting lineup. Manager Vincent Kompany rotates his team for Wednesday night's first round fixture against second-division side VfL Osnabrück, as reported by Kicker.
The announcement of goalkeeper Jonas Urbig as starter came from Kompany during the pre-match press conference. "Jonas will be in goal on Wednesday!", the 40-year-old coach stated explicitly. This rotation between Urbig and Manuel Neuer was planned before the season and was agreed around the time of Neuer's contract extension in May of last year, according to club sources. Neuer's deal with Bayern runs until summer 2027.
What is Bayern's new lineup?
The complete starting eleven for the cup match reads: Jonas Urbig in goal – Josip Stanisic, Min-jae Kim, Jonathan Tah and Brown in defense – Tom Bischof and Joshua Kimmich in midfield – Michael Olise, Ismael Saibari and Luis Diaz in attacking midfield – Harry Kane up front. Compared to the 5-1 Bundesliga opening win against Stuttgart, five players are changed. Alongside Urbig, Tom Bischof replaces Aleks Pavlovic, Josip Stanisic comes in for Konrad Laimer, Ismael Saibari takes Alphonso Davies' spot and Jonathan Tah starts instead of Dayot Upamecano, who begins on the bench.
This rotation begins in Bayern's third competitive match of the season. Kompany seizes the opportunity to give players like young Tom Bischof valuable playing time from the start. The full overview of the current squad is available on our squad page.
Why is Kompany warning about the opponent?
Despite being clear favorites, Vincent Kompany cautioned his team against complacency. "The most important thing is to know that everything can be difficult and not to underestimate it", the manager explained. "I've heard a lot about the Bremer Brücke and what you can experience there during a match."
Opponents VfL Osnabrück, managed by Timo Schultz, approach the match with mixed feelings. After three matchdays in the 2. Bundesliga, the team sits in 14th place in the table. Two of their first three league matches ended in defeat, but their most recent game brought a 1-0 victory against VfL Bochum. This current form makes them an unpredictable opponent.
What does the upcoming schedule look like?
The cup match against Osnabrück represents the next step in a congested early-season schedule. Kickoff at the Bremer Brücke is set for Wednesday at 20:45, with broadcast coverage on ARD and Sky. For Bayern, important Bundesliga fixtures follow, all of which can be tracked in our fixtures calendar.
The Munich side enters the match with momentum from their convincing season opener. The 5-1 victory against Stuttgart gave Vincent Kompany's team plenty of confidence for the challenges ahead. Now the task is to extend this positive run in the cup competition. The DFB-Pokal traditionally holds high importance for the record champions.
The tactical approach with the new lineup will be fascinating to observe. Particularly the role of Tom Bischof alongside Joshua Kimmich in defensive midfield promises interesting insights into Kompany's playing philosophy. Bayern's next Bundesliga match is already scheduled for the coming weekend.
