Bayern Munich will host group leaders Ajax Amsterdam at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday, hoping to turn a potentially serious early crisis into a mere road bump.
What looked like a superb start to the 2018-2019 season for Bayern Munich turned into a small crisis faster than most would have believed and could soon become a big one when Nico Kovac’s squad faces the Netherlands’ record champions on Tuesday. After two disappointing outings, Bayern are looking to get back in stride, seizing first position in Group E from their opponents in the process.
In the duel between Bundesliga’s and Eredivisie’s current number twos, Bayern would have clearly been favored as little as a week ago. After the two worst games of their season, things have certainly not completely turned around, but the home team is now under an entirely different kind of pressure.
Ajax travels to the Bavarian capital after two easy wins against HVV Te Werve in the KNVB Cup and against Fortuna Sittard in Eredivisie. While neither amount to a grand achievement, Ajax boast an impressive 9-0 goal differential across the two matches.
Team News
Apart from Rafinha, Corentin Tolisso and Kingsley Coman, who are recovering from mid- and long-term injuries respectively, Bayern might not be able to count on summer signing Leon Goretzka, who has seen a couple of impressive outings this season so far and could be an asset if he were to take the field in a more offensive role again. Goretzka was a full participant in Monday’s team training, though, so there is a possibility he plays.
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Predicted XI
The two most glaring absences from Friday’s starting XI against Hertha, Thomas Muller and Mats Hummels are expected to return to the lineup on Tuesday. Hummels should take the place of an uncharacteristically erratic performance by Jerome Boateng. Due to the best players being available, as well as a sheer lack of other alternatives, the defense in front of Manuel Neuer should consist of Joshua Kimmich, Niklas Sule, Mats Hummels and David Alaba. Neuer, who hasn’t quite looked like his usual self recently, can still be considered a lock and will be expected to clean up his act.
Much more open to debate are several midfield positions. Kovac is likely to try and mix things up again after two lackluster performances from his men. Thiago looks like the safest pick to keep his spot after arguably being Bayern’s best in Friday’s game. An especially motivated Arjen Robben can also be expected to start.
Javi Martinez is Kovac’s best tool to stabilize the defense on the ground as well as in the air. Thomas Müller and Franck Ribery should be the front runners to complete the midfield behind Robert Lewandowski. Renato Sanches and James Rodriguez are therefore likely to find themselves back on the bench.
"NeuerKimmich – Sule – Hummels – AlabaMartinezRobben – Müller – Thiago – RiberyLewandowski"
Opposition Focus
Ajax Amsterdam travels to Munich with the exact same record in the Eredivisie that Bayern has in the Bundesliga. Their only loss of the season came a day after Bayern’s triumph in Gelsenkirchen. While this Ajax Squad is clearly not the Ajax of the ’70s Niko Kovac talked about on Monday, or even that of the early 90s, they are not to be underestimated.
As per usual, Ajax are sporting a number of young up-and-comers who are closely watched by many great European clubs; Matthijs de Ligt being the prime example. The 19-year-old center back was linked to, among other clubs, FC Bayern during the summer as a potential replacement for Jerome Boateng and is Ajax‘s captain. 21-year-old winger David Neres could have become BVB‘s most expensive signing if he wanted and 25-year-old Hakim Ziyech is the Eredivisie‘s reigning player of the year.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, well-known to Bundesliga fans from seven years at Schalke, spearheads an otherwise very young team — nearly four years younger than Bayern‘s on average, in fact.
Prediction
Bayern Munich 3-1 Ajax Amsterdam
Niko Kovac has emphasized that he expects an appropriate reaction from his team. His players will deliver and will snap a winless streak before it can properly develop. Bayern is the better team in every position, after all.