Lucas Hernandez tore cruciate knee ligaments during the World Cup, which is why experienced campaigner Daley Blind was signed and the Dutchman could make an immediate debut, though Alphonso Davies is more likely to be given the nod on the left-hand side of the defence. He will not have Sadio Mane in front of him, though, with the Senegalese forward still sidelined, so it will likely be Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting leading the attack and looking to add to his six goals in as many games at the end of 2022.
Gvardiol was another player to impress in Qatar, and the Croatian defender will lead from the back, with regular goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi still sidelined with a knee injury and Janis Blaswich continuing to deputise between the posts. That is an area where Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann must also make a change, with Manuel Neuer’s season ended by a freak skiing accident. Sven Ulreich deputised for the Germany No. 1 in 2017/18 but it is new signing Yann Sommer, freshly arrived from league rivals Borussia Mönchengladbach, who is expected to be in between the posts for this one. Neuer’s not the only injury to affect the league leaders coming into the new year.
RB Leipzig vs. Bayern Munich: probable teams, match stats and LIVE blog! Sadio Mane misses out, but Jamal Musiala (r. ) will keep Josko Gvardiol (l. ) plenty busy when leaders Bayern Munich go to third-placed RB Leipzig in the 2023 opener.. - © DFL Sadio Mane misses out, but Jamal Musiala (r. - © DFLbundesligaone hour agoSadio Mane misses out, but Jamal Musiala can be expected to keep Josko Gvardiol busy when Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich visit third-placed RB Leipzig on Friday (kick-off: 8. 30pm CET). Latest Click here for the Leipzig vs Bayern blog! Thanks in no small part to Christopher Nkunku’s eight goals in the final eight games of 2022, Leipzig ended the calendar year as one of the Bundesliga’s form sides, climbing from 11th to third with 23 points collected under the guidance of Marco Rose.
Leipzig have only won one of 15 meetings with Bayern to date. After Musiala, Serge Gnabry is Bayern's next best scorer in 2022/23, with eight Bundesliga goals. Former Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano is the only Bayern player to have appeared in all 15 Bundesliga games of the season. Bayern have won their last six league games – the longest winning streak of any club in the Bundesliga this season.
Musiala will surely be the first name on Nagelsmann’s teamsheet, with his nine goals and six assists making him the league’s most dangerous player so far this season. Watch: A tactical analysis of Bayern's season so farMatch stats Nkunku scored 25 Bundesliga goals in the 2022 calendar year – more than any other player – while he is the league’s top scorer so far this season with 12. Since Rose became head coach of Leipzig in September, no club has picked up more points (23) in those 10 games; Bayern also have 23.
An injury in November denied the Frenchman his place at the World Cup, however, and he has not yet made a full recovery as league action resumes, leaving Rose with a key change to make. Dani Olmo could be the answer to Rose’s prayers, with the Spanish attacking midfielder shining for his country at the World Cup and ready to kick on domestically. The knee injury which disrupted his season appears to be a thing of the past, and if Rose can do the same with him that he did with Nkunku – pushing him into a more focal, advanced role – he may fancy the chances of adding to his sole goal of the season.
RB Leipzig vs. Bayern Munich - Football Match Summary - July 30, 2022 - ESPNKO Kickoff 14 Jamal Musiala Goal 31 Sadio Mané Goal 36 Mohamed Simakan Yellow Card 45 Benjamin Pavard Goal HT First Half ends, RB Leipzig 0, FC Bayern München 3. 52 On: André Silva|Off: Emil Forsberg On: Dani Olmo|Off: Kevin Kampl 59 Marcel Halstenberg Goal - Header 60 On: Kingsley Coman|Off: Jamal Musiala 64 Joshua Kimmich Yellow Card 65 Serge Gnabry Goal 67 On: Ryan Gravenberch|Off: Thomas Müller 73 Lucas Hernández Yellow Card 77 Christopher Nkunku Penalty - Scored 78 On: Matthijs de Ligt|Off: Dayot Upamecano On: Noussair Mazraoui|Off: Benjamin Pavard On: Leroy Sané|Off: Serge Gnabry 79 On: Hugo Novoa|Off: Mohamed Simakan 87 Leroy Sané Yellow Card 89 Dani Olmo Goal 90+1 On: Amadou Haidara|Off: Dominik Szoboszlai 90+2 Lukas Klostermann Yellow Card 90+7 Manuel Neuer Yellow Card 90+8 Leroy Sané Goal FT Second Half ends, RB Leipzig 3, FC Bayern München 5.