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 – DECEMBER 21: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Joshua Zirkzee of FC Bayern Muenchen during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and VfL Wolfsburg at Allianz Arena on December 21, 2019 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
MUNICH, GERMANY – DECEMBER 21: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Joshua Zirkzee of FC Bayern Muenchen during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and VfL Wolfsburg at Allianz Arena on December 21, 2019 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /

Give Joshua Zirkzee more chances

The final tactical alternative for Flick is replacing Lewandowski with another striker. Bayern currently don’t have an experienced alternative in the squad, but they do have an exciting teenage striker in the form of Joshua Zirkzee.

Zirkzee has been playing as a striker for the reserves team. He made his debut for the senior team in December. Zirkzee ended up scoring two crucial goals before the winter break against Freiburg and Wolfsburg. Since then, the Dutch striker has been struggling to get playing time with the first team.

Flick had to summon Zirkzee as there were injury problems in the first team before the winter break. The German manager can turn to him once again when one of the forwards is injured. Zirkzee in no form can replace Lewandowski’s quality now, but he can surely be an X-factor in the final third for Die Roten.

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The Dutch forward grasped his opportunities in December, so he surely knows few things about making an immediate impact for the team. Moreover, it will be a learning curve for the teenage striker. Zirkzee cannot start all games now, but he can surely be an exciting option for Die Roten in the absence of Lewandowski. The Dutchman has always dreamt about playing up-front for Bayern, so this could be his time to shine.