How will Bayern Munich line up in 2025/26 with Luis Díaz?
Bayern Munich have signed Luis Díaz from Liverpool as they strengthen their front line for the 2025/26 campaign. So, where might coach Vincent Kompany use the Colombian forward to get the best out of him, Harry Kane, Michael Olise and the entire team in a bid to build on last season’s Bundesliga title success?
On the whole, Kompany was pretty consistent in his team selection in his first year at the Bayern helm – when injuries allowed. That has perhaps been the biggest issue – not that there have been many – of his tenure so far.
The Belgian made it clear that he planned to build his team around a central core of Joshua Kimmich and Jamal Musiala, with Kane leading the line. He also quickly determined that Olise was indispensable following his summer arrival from Crystal Palace, playing in all but one of Bayern’s 56 fixtures from the start of the season through to the end of the FIFA Club World Cup.
Kompany also mostly persisted with Leroy Sané despite criticism of inconsistent form, keeping him in the team ahead of Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry, while Thomas Müller’s role as a squad player from the bench was soon evident and led to his departure after 25 years on the books of his boyhood club.
Leon Goretzka was more out than in when Kompany arrived, but played his way back into contention and once again became an integral part of the team alongside Kimmich in midfield, edging back ahead of Aleksandar Pavlović and heavily restricting new man João Palhinha’s playing time.
In defence, Alphonso Davies was the first-choice left-back when fit, but a hamstring and then cruciate ligament injury have kept him out for most of 2025, allowing Raphaël Guerreiro to take his spot.
A pre-season injury to another left-sided defender, Hiroki Ito, meant that Minjae Kim and Dayot Upamecano were the nailed on centre-backs, with Eric Dier and Josip Stanišić providing cover. The latter also competed with Konrad Laimer for the right-back berth after the winter break following his return from a knee injury he also sustained in pre-season.
Captain Manuel Neuer was a given in goal until a broken rib and then muscular injury presented opportunities to Daniel Peretz and newcomer Jonas Urbig respectively.
None of that stopped Bayern’s title charge, though. “It was a fun season. The guys gave their all. It was a good foundation for next season,” Kompany said at the club’s celebrations at Marienplatz.
Watch: Every Bayern goal in the Bundesliga last season
Díaz’s arrival is now undoubtedly an extra pillar upon that foundation. The Colombian scored 41 goals and provided 23 assists in 148 competitive appearances over three years for Liverpool, contributing 20 in 36 games as Arne Slot’s men won the English Premier League last season.
The Barrancas native is capable of playing across the front line – like many of Bayern’s forwards – but very much prefers to be wide on the left.
Watch: Díaz's unveiling and position talk
However, he was often used in a more central role last season, even bagging a hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League’s league phase playing as the furthest man forward.
On that occasion, Slot admitted that it was a tactical decision to target Jonathan Tah – Díaz’s new teammate in Munich – in combination with injuries at the time and that he would only use the Colombian there if absences forced his hand.
Given Kane’s track record of generally staying fit, it means that shouldn’t be much of a consideration at Bayern. They will have signed Díaz to play in his preferred wide positions.
On paper, therefore, it’s a relatively simple decision. Díaz likes to play on the left and Olise proved that he was almost untouchable on the right. Unsurprisingly, then, that's what we saw in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, where Díaz scored the winner on his debut.
Watch: Debutant Díaz decides the Supercup
And after the departure of Sané to Galatasaray and Coman to Al-Nassr, it leaves Gnabry as the primary competitor for those positions, although an impressive pre-season from Lennart Karl has given Kompany extra food for thought.
Coman in particular was going to be most challenged by Díaz’s presence, given he almost always played from the left. Gnabry is more versatile and two-footed, capable of playing on either flank and also in the middle.
That could play into Gnabry’s hands following the injury to Musiala at the Club World Cup. A broken leg and ankle will keep the latter out for some time and open up a position in the three behind Kane. There’s also no Müller anymore to plug that playmaker gap.
Olise would often pop up in central positions last season, but was at his most influential from the right.
Could Díaz play off Kane? It’s unlikely based on how he’s played before. The door is therefore open for a Gnabry to stake his claim, which he arguably did with his assist for Díaz against Stuttgart. At times last season he would dovetail with the striker in central areas, helping turn a 4-2-3-1 into more of a 4-4-2 when needed.
Behind them, Kimmich remains the first name on Kompany’s teamsheet. It will likely again be a contest between Goretzka and Pavlović, although the signing of 20-year-old Tom Bischof offers more options, if not a look at the future.
The injuries to Davies and Ito mean that Guerreiro should continue in the early weeks and months on the left of defence, where Tah’s arrival will stoke competition between Kim and Upamecano. It was the Frenchman who partnered Tah in the knockout stages of the Club World Cup once fit, after Stanišić got the honour in the first group games.
The Munich-born Croatia international could also easily fill either full-back spot, but Laimer’s dogged nature and ability to step into midfield makes him a handy person in that role on the right.
Watch: Bayern's best moments of 2024/25
In goal, Neuer will play if fit and available. There has been talk of him sitting out some games to allow Urbig some playing time and to develop. That will definitely come at least in the first round of the DFB Cup at Wehen Wiesbaden, where the captain has to serve a suspension.
Even at 39, though, Neuer is the undisputed first choice and still one of the best in the world.
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