The Allianz Arena will be agog tonight for the 117th Bundesliga encounter between Bayern Munich and Werder Bremen. Softfootball understands that this fixture is one of the most contested in the league’s history.
Traditionally one of the Bundesliga’s great rivalries, the balance has tilted heavily in Bayern’s favor in recent years. While the Bavarian giants have lost more league games to Werder Bremen (27) than to any club except Borussia Mönchengladbach (28), they have suffered defeat in just one of their last 31 Bundesliga meetings with Bremen a 0-1 home loss in January 2024.
Heading into this matchday, Bayern aim to extend their domestic winning streak to five games, with Vincent Kompany’s side showing no signs of slowing down. The team will be seeking to extend their perfect run of the season, having defeated Hoffenheim 4-1 in their last Bundesliga encounter.
However, the manager has made some bold decisions in his lineup selection. Notably, Sascha Boey has been deployed at left-back to cover for the injured Josip Stanišić, while young Bischof partners Pavlović in midfield, leaving the experienced Joshua Kimmich surprisingly on the bench. This tactical adjustment is a clear indication of Kompany’s willingness to experiment even in high-profile fixtures.
Statistically, Bayern field the oldest starting XI of the Bundesliga season, with an average age of 28 years and 335 days. In contrast, Bremen arrive with one of the youngest sides in the league, averaging just 25 years and 46 days, second only to Eintracht Frankfurt in youthful lineups. This clash of experience versus youth adds an intriguing layer to the evening’s narrative.
The confirmed lineups highlight Bayern’s wealth of attacking talent, with Olise, Gnabry, and Díaz supporting Harry Kane at the tip of a 4-2-3-1 system. Werder Bremen, also in a 4-2-3-1, will rely on the energy of Njinmah up front, supported by Schmid, Puertas, and Mbangula, while Stage and Lynen anchor the midfield. Meanwhile, Coach Kompany will be banking on Harry Kane for goals tonight as the England captain gets his third consecutive start of the season.
As the Bundesliga resumes its fifth matchday following a week of European competition, all eyes will be on whether Bremen’s youthful side can challenge Bayern’s dominance or if the record champions will once again underline their supremacy in this historic rivalry.
FC Bayern XI (4-2-3-1):
From Bayern’s official X handle:
Neuer (c) – Boey, Upamecano, Tah, Laimer – Bischof, Pavlović – Olise, Gnabry, Díaz – Kane
Werder Bremen XI (4-2-3-1):
Hein–Sugawara, Friedl, Coulibaly, Agu – Stage, Lynen – Schmid, Puertas, Mbangula – Njinmah
