Right-back
Similar to how Neuer is the undisputed starter in goal, Konrad Laimer is Vincent Kompany’s preferred option at right-back. Despite being primarily a box-box midfielder, the 28-year-old Austrian international has proven himself as the perfect foil to, last summer’s marquee signing, Michael Olise on the right flank with his underlapping and overlapping runs.
With his impressive endurance and work rate Laimer is able defend effectively as well as attack. His ability to press and counter-press is an important feature of Kompany’s tactics. If Laimer can improve his crossing and finishing, he and Olise may be an unstoppable combination this season.
As things currently stand, mainly due to the injury situation at the club, Laimer’s deputy will be the talented, but inconsistent and injury-prone 24-year-old Frenchman-Sacha Boey.
Left-back
On the left side of the back four, were it not for the long-term injuries to both Alphonso Davies and Hiroki Ito the first choice would have been just as clear as on the right to start the season. However, with the injured undisputed starter-Alphonso Davies not expected back in action before November, Kompany has turned to Josip Stanisic as his number one option for the time being.
Stanisic is Bayern’s defensive all-rounder. Although known mainly as a right-back who can also function effectively at center-back, in the absence of Davies and Ito, he has managed to claim the left-back spot ahead of the highly-experienced 31-year-old Portuguese international Raphael Guerreiro. Unlike Stanisic, Guerreiro is a proven naturally left-footed left-back. However, based on Kompany’s preference for Stansic at left-back, and both Davies and Ito scheduled to return in the coming months, this could very well be Guerreiro’s last season in a Bayern Shirt.
Japanese international Hiroki Ito last season, when fit, was also ahead of Guerreiro in the pecking order at left-back. The 28-year-old is another versatile and naturally left-footed defender and when healthy is expected to be the deputy to Davies.