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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LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 25: Thiago of Bayern Munich 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 James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 25: Thiago of Bayern Munich 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 James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images) /

Use a diamond in midfield

Midfield is the strongest department of the current Bayern squad. There is immense quality and depth in the midfield, so why not use it now when Lewandowski is set to be out for four weeks. Flick can slightly adjust his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation to form a diamond in the midfield.

Joshua Kimmich will sit in front of the defense. In front of him, there will be two dynamic number eights in Thiago Alcantara and Corentin Tolisso. The two midfielders will provide goals from the midfield and help in getting a numerical superiority in the midfield.

At number ten position, Flick can go with Leon Goretzka or Philippe Coutinho. The two players have different profiles, but they flourish in the hole behind forwards. Goretzka will provide more robustness to the midfield while the Brazilian will bring more guile to the midfield. Apart from these midfielders, Die Roten also have Mickael Cuisance and Javi Martinez as midfield options.

In the final third, Muller and Gnabry will dovetail each other. The German duo will have similar duties to their roles in a 3-5-2 system, but they will get much more service from central positions. They will create goalscoring opportunities for midfielders by stretching the defense with their clever runs.