Koln vs Bayern Munich LIVE – Kane starts for champions as Tuchel’s side visit

KOLN TEAM ANALYSIS

What is the main challenge for Koln coach Steffen Baumgart in dealing with Bayern? It is how to prevent them from scoring goals.

His solution? He plans to stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation instead of using a defensive formation with five players at the back.

Timo Hubers and Luca Kilian have been assigned as the central defenders responsible for containing Harry Kane in tonight’s match. Marvin Schwabe, who is filling in for Timo Horn, will be guarding the goal to try and prevent the talented English striker from scoring. Jeff Chabot will be positioned as the left-back and aims to assert his physical dominance against either Leroy Sane or Kingsley Coman, depending on who is playing on the right side for Bayern. Rasmus Carstensen, the Danish right-back, completes the defensive line and is responsible for neutralizing the threat posed by the Bayern left winger. This entails preventing Sane from advancing towards the goal line to deliver passes to Kane, or stopping Coman from cutting inside onto his preferred right foot and creating quick one-two combinations with his striker around the box perimeter. In the inner workings of the ship, Dejan Ljubicic, the dependable Austrian, teams up with Eric Martel. Positioned in the central axis at a height of 6’2″, Baumgart’s directive is evident: overpower Bayern in both the physical and aerial combat.

Leading the way, Florian Kainz takes charge of the midfield trio, strategically seeking gaps through his clever footwork and seamlessly infiltrating unguarded zones in the scarce chances that the hosts have when attacking.