Bayern will kick off their set of pre-season friendlies against FC. Köln this Saturday at 6pm GMT.
Köln will be hoping to start off the season strongly after narrowly avoiding relegation to the Bundesliga 2 in the 2020/21 season.
This will be Julian Nagelsmann’s first game in charge of Bayern Munich, and he will look to make a first strong impression, though he will have to do so without many of his star players at his disposal, namely Robert Lewandowski, who are still on break following their appearance in international tournaments this summer.
Bayern will not be the only team with a new manager, as Köln have brought in new manager Steffen Baumgart from Paderborn.
With much of the senior Bayern players still away, this will be an opportunity for the younger players to prove their worth to Nagelsmann ahead of the upcoming season.
Most anticipated will be Upamecano’s first appearance for Bayern, but former England U21 left-back Omar Richards may be the key player to look out for, as injuries to Alphonso Davies and Lucas Hernandez could mean the young Englishman will remain first choice left-back for the start of the competitive season.
Michaël Cuisance and Joshua Zirkzee both failed to impress during their loan spells at Olympique Marseille and Parma Calcio, but will look at the new manager as a last chance to prove themselves.
Expected lineups according to Bundesliga.com
Köln: T. Horn – Ehizibue, Bornauw, Czichos, Katterbach – Özcan, Ljubicic, Hector (c) – Uth, Modeste, Kainz
Bayern: Ulreich (c) – C. Richards, Upamecano, Stanisic – Scott, Nianzou, Roca, O. Richards – Batista Meier, Cuisance – Zirkzee
