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Julian Nagelsmann is without Robert Lewandowski for his first preseason game in charge of Bayern Munich against Cologne on Saturday (kick-off: 3 p.m. GMT + 2).
Live deployment!
Cologne v Bayern
Cologne: T. Horn – Ehizibue, Mere, Czichos, Katterbach – Özcan, Hector (c) – Uth, Kainz, Thielmann – Modeste
Bayern: Ulreich – C. Richards, Upamecano, Stanisic, O. Richards – Rhein, Booth – Zirkzee, Scott, Sieb – Choupo-Moting
FAITH IN YOUTH
Nagelsmann also gives a start to Joshua Zirkzee, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Parma. Josip Stanisic, Torben Rhein, American Taylor Booth, Christopher Scott and Armindo Sieb complete a rather young line-up, although Erix Maxim Choupo-Moting, 32, is the spearhead.
NEW FACES
Nagelsmann is not the only new face in the Bayern camp. There are also debuts for former RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano and former England U21 international left-back Omar Richards. USMNT defender Chris Richards is back at the club after a loan spell with Hoffenheim, while Sven Ulreich takes over the gloves in Manuel Neuer’s absence after spending the 2020/21 Bundesliga 2 campaign with Hamburg.
WELCOME!
The Julian Nagelsmann era begins here, now for Bayern Munich. Cologne provide the opposition in the 33-year-old’s first outing as head coach of the record champions …
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Cologne will be hoping to return a new roster in the next campaign, having avoided relegation to Bundesliga 2 via the 2020/21 play-offs. To this end, the Billy Goats have signed Steffen Baumgart as Paderborn’s head coach, along with Austrian midfielder Dejan Ljubicic and city native Mark Uth. The latter was among the scorers as Cologne beat local rival Viktoria 4-0 in their first preseason game. Anthony Modeste scored a few days later in a 1-1 draw against Duisburg. With impromptu frontman Ondrej Duda – one of Slovakia’s most notable performers in UEFA Euro 2020 groups – not expected to return to the camp until the end of the month, the seasoned duo are expected to lead the line against the record champions, with the support of Florian Kainz, who recorded two assists in the rout of the return leg of the play-offs at Holstein Kiel. Defender Sebastiaan Bornauw has moved to Wolfsburg, but the squad is also led by longtime captain Jonas Hector.
A new era is also underway at Bayern, with Nagelsmann taking the place of future German coach Hansi Flick. Former 33-year-old club RB Leipzig were Bayern’s closest pursuer last season, but still finished 13 points behind as the record champions won a ninth consecutive Bundesliga title. Cornerstones of the most successful era in club history, David Alaba, Jerome Boateng and Javi Martinez have since moved on. But the arrival of center-back Dayot Upamecano and former England Under-21 left-back Omar Richards – not to mention the return of US defender Chris Richards from a Hoffenheim loan – ensures that Nagelsmann’s Bayern will be well stocked at all positions. All the more so once record-breaking talisman Lewandowski, captain Manuel Neuer and King’s assistant Thomas Müller return from vacation after Euro 2020. Left-wing defenders Alphonso Davies and Lucas Hernandez are however set to miss the start of the season. competition due to injury, while midfielder Marc Roca joined them on the sidelines after tearing ankle ligaments in training.
Watch: Bayern to defend Bundesliga crown for 10th consecutive season in 2021/22
Match statistics
- Lewandowski has scored 14 goals in 15 games for Cologne. He scored 41 Bundesliga goals in 2020/21.
- Nagelsmann has faced Cologne 10 times as a coach, taking five wins, three draws and two losses.
- Bayern are undefeated in their last 14 games against Cologne, winning 13.
- Duda was Cologne’s top scorer with seven goals last season.
- Hector begins his 10th season with the Cologne first team.
- Baumgart’s three previous encounters with Bayern have ended in a 12-4 loss.
CONFIRMED Compositions
Cologne: T. Horn – Ehizibue, Mere, Czichos, Katterbach – Özcan, Hector (c) – Uth, Kainz, Thielmann – Modeste
Subscribers: To follow
Outside: Cestic (thigh), J. Horn (hip)
Coach: Steffen Baumgart
Bayern: Ulreich – C. Richards, Upamecano, Stanisic, O. Richards – Rhein, Booth – Zirkzee, Scott, Sieb – Choupo-Moting
Subscribers: Hoffmann, Cuisance, Sarr, Nianzou, Copado, Tillman, Vita, Lawrence, Mosandl
Outside: Davies (ankle), Früchtl (collarbone), Hernandez (knee), Roca (ankle)
Coach: Julien nagelsmann
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