Bayern Munich Prepares for St. Pauli Clash Amid Recent Setback

Bayern Munich will host St. Pauli on matchday 12 of the Bundesliga, aiming to rebound from their recent defeat for the first time this season.

Vincent Kompany’s side experienced their first loss since the Club World Cup last summer, with Arsenal defeating them 3-1 midweek in the Champions League. They now face a St. Pauli team that has lost its last eight Bundesliga matches and currently sits in 17th place. The situation poses significant challenges for the visitors.

Despite this setback, Bayern remains at the top of the Bundesliga, boasting ten wins and one draw in eleven matches. However, their recent performance against Arsenal revealed vulnerabilities in their defense. When asked about Manuel Neuer’s mistake and the potential substitution with Jonas Urbig, Kompany stated:

“What mistake are we talking about? I have a different opinion on that – what should a goalkeeper do, wait for a one-on-one situation? Or come forward to assist a teammate in anticipation? I’m somewhat surprised by the question.”

Regarding Urbig, he added:

“When we decide to change the goalkeeper, it’s always in consultation with Manu. We didn’t make that change this time, as I need to consider what’s best for the team. We also aim for Jonas Urbig to improve – but the timing for that discussion needs to be appropriate; we haven’t had that conversation yet. My focus is solely on St. Pauli.”

During Alexander Blessin’s press conference, the St. Pauli coach acknowledged the daunting task ahead:

“It’s going to be a challenge, but where did you want to play as a kid? Many of us dreamed of playing for Bayern Munich. Last season’s match was an exhilarating experience. We’ll need to endure, that’s certain, but we must push ourselves to the limit and hope for some luck.”

His assessment is accurate; St. Pauli has only scored nine goals all season, while Bayern has conceded just eight.

While one might expect the away side to adopt a defensive strategy with five or even six players at the back, they will also need a more pragmatic approach in their attack. Simply sitting back is not a viable option.

For Bayern Munich, Serge Gnabry returned to action midweek, filling in for the suspended Luis Diaz. However, it is likely that Diaz will reclaim his spot in the starting eleven at Gnabry’s expense.

Gnabry contributed to an impressive goal against Arsenal, but head coach Vincent Kompany is expected to favor Diaz and Michael Olise on the flanks.

Alphonso Davies and Jamal Musiala have resumed some team training; however, a return this weekend is too soon. Both players are projected to be available towards the end of December and at the beginning of the Rückrunde (second half of the season), which poses a concerning prospect for other Bundesliga and Champions League teams.

Meanwhile, St. Pauli is expected to be without David Memeth, who is recovering from a groin injury. Additionally, Blessin will likely miss Adam Dzwigala, Arkadiusz, and Manolis Saliakas for this match.