kicker suggests that with the extended and new version of the Champions League on the horizon, Bayern Munich midfielder João Palhinha is expected to play a bigger role.
The 29-year-old has already returned to Munich and team training after Portugal’s 2-1 win against Scotland in the Nations League. Since finally moving to Bavaria in the summer, Palhinha has struggled for game time, this is mainly due to head coach Vincent Kompany’s preference.
Unlike Kompany’s predecessor, Thomas Tuchel, the Belgian sees no problems with Bayern’s lack of a defensive midfielder and is happy to use Joshua Kimmich in the middle. The long-time Bayern midfielder can also work in tandem with Aleksander Palvovic, who emerged from the Bayern campus as Tuchel looked for midfield alternatives.
On top of this, when Bayern are against teams where they are more ball-dominant, such as Ulm, Wolfsburg and Heidneheim there is no reason for Palhinha to be playing. Against better teams in the Bundesliga as well as in the Champions League, the Portuguese international will be needed to sweep up ahead of what has proven to be a fragile Bayern defence to start the season.
GGFN | Jack Meenan
