Will Javi Martinez get some playing time?
Bayern Munich had a rough time with injuries before the winter break. In the last game of 2019, Die Roten lost Javi Martinez for two months. The Spaniard suffered a muscle injury in the 2-0 win over Wolfsburg in December.
The Spanish midfielder has completed his recovery and been involved in the last two matchday squad. However, Hansi Flick is yet to give him minutes. It will be interesting to see whether Flick is easing him back to action and give him few minutes against Augsburg.
Martinez was enjoying an extended spell in the starting lineup before his injury. The Spaniard was playing in the back four, partnering David Alaba in the heart of the defense. He struggled to get playing time under Niko Kovac, so in the initial few games as a center-half, he was inconsistent. As he got more minutes under his belt, Martinez was becoming an important player for Flick.
It remains to be seen whether the Spanish midfielder will be able to break into the team again. Since Jerome Boateng and David Alaba have formed a solid partnership at the back, Martinez may find it difficult to feature in defense. Flick has been smart in terms of managing senior players, so it will be interesting to see how he utilizes Martinez going into the final two months of the season.