How will Bayern Munich line-up in 2026/27?
What could be better than winning the Bundesliga in your first two seasons in charge? Doing it a third time. That will be Vincent Kompany’s aim in 2026/27, and this is how he could set up his team with that objective in mind…
Goalkeeper
Like last season, Manuel Neuer is expected to remain first choice between the sticks. Even at 40, he is still among the world’s best, as shown by a superb display against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. His value to Bayern extends beyond his shot-stopping, with his experience and authority remaining crucial.
However, he is not getting any younger and managed just 22 Bundesliga appearances in 2025/26 due to a series of injury niggles. A changing of the guard is therefore inevitable, with Jonas Urbig waiting in the wings. The youngster made 14 league appearances last season, impressing when called upon, and is expected to see increased minutes this term as Bayern compete on three fronts.
Watch: Manuel Neuer's 2025/26 season in retrospect
Defence
Josip Stanišić was a regular fixture for Bayern in 2025/26, making 43 appearances across all competitions as a versatile defensive option. The Croatian continues to grow in stature and is seen as a long-term asset, offering energy and physicality at both right-back and, on occasion, the opposite flank.
For now, though, Konrad Laimer is the more likely choice, following a standout campaign in which he registered nine assists – the joint-fourth highest in the division – while putting in his usual relentless defensive work.
At centre-back, Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah have formed a formidable partnership. Despite possessing similar profiles, they complement each other well and performed fantastically last term, Tah’s first at the club. As back-up, Kompany has Minjae Kim and Hiroki Ito at his disposal – both reliable replacements who can contribute if required.
Watch: Best of Upamecano in 2025/26
Nathaniel Brown is one of Bayern’s major summer additions. While Eintracht Frankfurt endured a difficult campaign last season, Brown still caught the eye, and he also impressed for Germany at the FIFA World Cup. He looks well placed to make the left-back role his own for years to come, although Alphonso Davies may yet have something to say about that if he can overcome the injury issues that have disrupted his last two seasons.
Midfield
As ever, Joshua Kimmich will be one of the first names on the team sheet. The Germany captain is a shoo-in to take the Bayern armband once Neuer’s hangs up his gloves, having skippered the side in the shot-stopper’s absence in 2025/26, and is the man responsible for implementing Kompany’s philosophy on the pitch.
Kimmich should have Aleksandar Pavlović alongside him in the engine room following Leon Goretzka’s departure. The 22-year-old impressed last season, starting all 14 of Bayern’s matches on their run to the Champions League semi-finals, and has also established himself as a regular for Germany.
After a strong debut campaign at the Allianz Arena, Tom Bischof will be knocking on the door once more. Playing time was always likely to be limited following his switch from Hoffenheim, yet he still made 14 Bundesliga starts and three in the Champions League, showcasing his wide range of qualities whenever called upon. He is also versatile, having featured at left-back, and should at the very least keep Pavlović on his toes.
Attack
Three of Bayern’s four starters in the final third are set in stone. Between them last season, Harry Kane, Luis Díaz and Michael Olise scored 66 goals and provided a further 38 assists – and that is only in the Bundesliga. Whether it is Kane’s ruthless finishing, Olise’s dribbling and vision, or Díaz’s incisive tenacity, the trio arguably make up the finest attacking trio in club football.
Watch: Bayern's record-breaking 25/26 season
The attacking midfield role, however, remains up for grabs. Serge Gnabry offered a valuable outlet last season, contributing goals and assists while helping to maximise the output of the front three, but another serious injury towards the end of the campaign ruled him out of the run-in and the World Cup, with his return date still unclear.
His absence opened the door for Jamal Musiala to re-establish himself after battling back from a serious leg and ankle fracture. The 23-year-old showed encouraging signs towards the end of the season, as well as for Germany at the World Cup, and with the national team’s early exit, he will have extra time to prepare for the demands of the domestic campaign.
Watch: Best of Jamal Musiala!
Musiala is not Kompany’s only option in the No.10 role. Lennart Karl has burst onto the scene over the past 12 months, doing enough to earn a place in Germany’s World Cup squad before injury intervened. He too should return refreshed to continue his rapid rise, although his preferred position is as an inverted right winger. Olise, meanwhile, has been used more centrally for France, adding an attractive alternative in behind Kane.
And then there is Ismael Saibari. The Morocco international has made the summer switch to Bayern from PSV Eindhoven, where he scored 19 goals in 37 appearances across all competitions last season and won a third consecutive Eredivisie title. An attacking midfielder by trade, he has also showcased his versatility for Morocco at the World Cup, scoring in three of their first four matches as a false nine and underlining his ability to provide cover for Kane up front.
All in all, Kompany’s Bayern look well set to shine once more, and this XI may well be the one to help them do just that.
