Bayern Munich saw their unbeaten run of 18 games end at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday. The Bavarian club suffered a 3-1 defeat against the Premier League leaders. It was a closely fought contest in the first half, but Arsenal managed to take complete control of the proceedings in the second half.
Vincent Kompany’s men will look to bounce back from Wednesday’s setback against St. Pauli on Saturday. Bayern are yet to drop points at Allianz Arena in the league this season. Despite Wednesday’s defeat, Die Roten are favourites to get a win on matchday 12 of the Bundesliga.
St. Pauli have consistently struggled in the Bundesliga this season as they languish just above the relegation zone. They are currently on a losing streak of five games in the Bundesliga. It will take a Herculean effort from them to get anything from Saturday’s game at Allianz Arena.
Team News
Bayern have no fresh injury concerns from the game against Arsenal. Luis Diaz will return to the squad on Saturday after missing the game at the Emirates Stadium due to suspension.
Jamal Musiala was spotted doing shooting drills at Sabner Strasse this week, but he remains far from first team training. Alphonso Davies is getting closer to returning from serious knee injury, but Saturday’s game will come too soon for him.
Predicted Starting XI
After his mistake for the third goal against Arsenal, Manuel Neuer was publicly defended by Vincent Kompany in Friday’s pre-match press conference. The Belgian believed that Neuer made the right decision to come off his goal in an attempt to stop Gabriel Martinelli. Neuer has been in good form this season, so there should be no concerns over his place in the goal against St. Pauli even after the mistake against Arsenal.
There are unlikely to be any changes in the back four against St. Pauli on Saturday. Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah will play in central defense. Meanwhile, Konrad Laimer and Josip Stanisic will slot in the full-back position.
Joshua Kimmich is expected to keep his place in the midfield. Leon Goretzka could come into the lineup for Aleksandar Pavlovic in the center of the park. The young German midfielder started the last two games, so Kompany can certainly give him some rest on Saturday.
Luis Diaz will return to the starting XI against St. Pauli. The Colombian will play on the left, while Michael Olise is expected to start on the right side of the attack. Since Serge Gnabry is not completely fit and Lennart Karl has started the last two games, Nicolas Jackson could get a rare start in the number nine position. Harry Kane will play just behind Jackson.
Predicted Starting XI- Neuer; Stanisic, Tah, Upamecano, Laimer; Goretzka, Kimmich; Diaz, Kane, Olise; Jackson
Score Prediction
Bayern Munich 4-0 St. Pauli
After the defeat against Arsenal on Wednesday, expecting Bayern to come out all guns blazing is not an outrageous thought. They have excelled at Allianz Arena in the Bundesliga, so St. Pauli are facing an uphill task of getting anything from the game.