Bayern Strikes
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Five ways Bayern Munich can tackle Robert Lewandowski’s absence

By Kiran Thakare

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 25: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) head coach Hansi Flick of FC Bayern Muenchen looks on during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Chelsea FC and FC Bayern Muenchen at Stamford Bridge on February 25, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Roland Krivec/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 25: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) head coach Hansi Flick of FC Bayern Muenchen looks on during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Chelsea FC and FC Bayern Muenchen at Stamford Bridge on February 25, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Roland Krivec/DeFodi Images via Getty Images) /
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MUNICH, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 21: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Sven Michel of SC Paderborn 07 and David Alaba of FC Bayern Muenchen battle for the ball during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and SC Paderborn 07 at Allianz Arena on February 22, 2020 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
MUNICH, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 21: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Sven Michel of SC Paderborn 07 and David Alaba of FC Bayern Muenchen battle for the ball during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and SC Paderborn 07 at Allianz Arena on February 22, 2020 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /

Switch to a back three

Flick decided to experiment against Paderborn last Friday by playing three players in defense. The change in the system didn’t work out as Bayern had to work hard to get a win against Paderborn. However, Flick could do with sticking with this system till Lewandowski returns to action.

Bayern currently have an ample amount of depth in central defense. Javi Martinez will also become an option in the heart of defense as he has started training with the first team after being out for more than two months due to a muscle injury. With Lucas Hernandez, Benjamin Pavard, David Alaba, and Jerome Boateng, Bayern can easily rotate in a back three.

Moreover, Alvaro Odriozola and Alphonso Davies are much better players when they are given more responsibility in the final third. In the defensive and midfield department, Die Roten will have the required amount of depth to execute this formation.

Upfront, Flick can pair up Thomas Muller and Serge Gnabry. The two players will complement each other in the final third as Muller has been superb in finding passes in the final third. A strong partnership between these two will make sure that Die Roten don’t miss a traditional number nine. Gnabry will bring the goals while Muller will provide the needed hold up play in the final third.