Bayern Strikes
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Four things to watch out when Bayern Munich host Paderborn

By Kiran Thakare

PADERBORN, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 28: goalkeeper Jannik Huth of SC Paderborn 07 and Serge Gnabry of FC Bayern Muenchen during the Bundesliga match between SC Paderborn 07 and FC Bayern Muenchen at Benteler Arena on September 28, 2019 in Paderborn, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
PADERBORN, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 28: goalkeeper Jannik Huth of SC Paderborn 07 and Serge Gnabry of FC Bayern Muenchen during the Bundesliga match between SC Paderborn 07 and FC Bayern Muenchen at Benteler Arena on September 28, 2019 in Paderborn, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /
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Bayern Munich’s new Spanish defender Alvaro Odriozola warms up prior to the German first division Bundesliga football match Bayern Munich v Schalke 04 in Munich on January 25, 2020. (Photo by Christof STACHE / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP via Getty Images)
Bayern Munich’s new Spanish defender Alvaro Odriozola warms up prior to the German first division Bundesliga football match Bayern Munich v Schalke 04 in Munich on January 25, 2020. (Photo by Christof STACHE / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP via Getty Images) /

Alvaro Odriozola’s full debut

Flick was desperate to sign one defender in the January transfer window. He expressed this demand in public during one of the press conferences in January. Eventually, Bayern went on to sign Alvaro Odriozola from Real Madrid on a six-month loan deal.

The Spanish full-back has effectively moved from Madrid’s bench to Bayern’s bench. Flick is yet to give a competitive start to Odriozola. The Spaniard has made few substitute appearances, but those were not enough to judge his quality.

After a tough few weeks in Munich, things are going to change for Odriozola. Flick admitted on Thursday that Odriozola is set to make his first start in Bavarian colours against Paderborn. Since chances have been difficult to come by for the right-back, this is a big opportunity for him to make a case for a place in the strongest starting XI.

Odriozola is known for his offensive abilities and creativity in the final third. Benjamin Pavard has been alright in the right-back role, but Odriozola can provide more thrust in the final third. SInce Paderborn will sit deep, Odriozola will have a big role to play in stretching the visitors’ back four. It will be interesting to see how he fares against Paderborn.