As the German Bundesliga is slowly but surely getting towards the business end of the season, the Bayern Munich selection headache for manager Vincent Kompany is a hot topic, with the title race being so tightly contested.
Six points separate the Bavarians from their nearest rivals, Borussia Dortmund, at the top of the table, and before the two sides meet on Saturday, February 28, the Bavarians take on Eintracht Frankfurt.
This clash could be a significant one in terms of the title race as head coach Vincent Kompany faces a Bayern Munich selection headache, with three players each on four yellow cards and a caution away from suspension, as he can’t afford anyone to miss the big game next week.
The Bayern Munich Selection Headache: Players In Yellow Card Trouble
Vincent Kompany faces the Bayern Munich selection headache because three players are a caution away from missing der Klassiker against Dortmund next week. They are Joshua Kimmich, Jonathan Tah, and Leon Goretzka.
Kimmich has been one of Kompany’s very few indispensable players during his reign at the club. The vice-captain is the coach’s right-hand man, the leader amongst the outfield players who takes the captaincy whenever Manuel Neuer is unavailable.
Tah is another one of the side’s pillars, in his case, at the centre of defence. Goretzka, on the other hand, is usually the backup for either Kimmich or Aleksandar Pavlovic in midfield.
The Bayern Munich Selection Headache: Possible Alternatives To The Trio
Kimmich has played through pain towards the end of the first half of the season, often being the victim of his own importance.
Kompany will likely rest him this time, particularly given the fact that he cannot afford to have him miss the Dortmund game.
With that being said, who will replace him?
The answer might well be Goretzka, despite also being in card trouble himself, with the midfielder much more disposable for the Dortmund match-up.
The other logical choice would be Tom Bischof. The 20-year-old has often been used as a full-back, but his natural position is in midfield.
The choices that Kompany has at the back amid the Bayern Munich selection headache are much better than those in midfield.
The coach will likely start Kim Min-jae, in case he wants to keep Tah from getting that fifth yellow card.
He has often brought in the South Korea international whenever he needed to rest either Tah or Dayot Upamecano.
In this case, little would change compared to the norm, but Hiroki Ito might also be an option.
The former VfB Stuttgart man has had limited minutes at Bayern through injury since arriving in the summer of 2024.
Since his recovery, he has been a fringe player, mostly used as a left-back, but the central defensive position is likely his best.
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Pic: Paul Marriott . . . Arsenal v Manchester United . . April 28, 2013 Robin van Persie (MU) applauds all of the fans in The Emirates Stadium. PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK ; Fussball England Premier League 2012 FC Manu xas x0x 2013 quer
Image number 13492721 date 28 04 2013 Copyright imago Paul Marriott Pic Paul Marriott Arsenal v Manchester United April 28 2013 Robin van Persie Mu applaud All of The supporters in The Emirates Stage PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK Football England Premier League 2012 FC ManU xas x0x 2013 horizontal
The Bayern Munich Selection Headache: Kompany Has Players That Can Step Up
Kompany has surprised us with his lineup choices many times this season. It could even be that he ignores the Bayern Munich selection headache altogether, trusting in his players not to get themselves booked, as reckless and ultimately unlikely as that may be.
Frankfurt are a decent and potentially quite dangerous opponent for Bayern themselves as they came in third last season.
It was defensive vulnerabilities that cost them many points this term, and they ultimately sealed former coach Dino Toppmöller’s fate.
New boss Albert Riera has a completely different philosophy, one that will naturally first look at securing the defence, but they still can be a dangerous side to play against, particularly with the Bayern Munich selection headache being a factor.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO/Ulmer/Teamfoto
Recording Date: 18.10.2025
