Thiago Alcantara vs Konrad Laimer
Midfield battles generally decide the outcome of big games. Sunday’s clash between Bayern and Leipzig will not be anything different. In Thiago Alcantara, Bayern currently has division’s most in-form central midfielder.
The Spanish midfielder is getting back to his best after a poor Hinrunde. Thiago has been dictating play for Die Roten with his tidy passing and sublime dribbling skills. He is also on a good goalscoring run at the moment, scoring three goals in three games in 2020. Joshua Kimmich‘s presence in holding midfield role has made sure that Thiago can be more dynamic in central midfield.
Bayern will dominate possession on Sunday, so they will need Thiago’s vision and mazy runs to open Leipzig’s stubborn defense. Konrad Laimer is likely to be assigned the duty to isolate Thiago and win all the duels against the former Barcelona midfielder.
Laimer will have to be smart with his positioning and tackling to disrupt Thiago’s gameplan. The Austrian midfielder also should try to progress the ball quickly after winning it from Thiago. It will be an exciting midfield battle that can have a lasting effect on each team’s season.