DFB-Pokal Bayern Holders Won it last season, Kane hat-trick in the final | 2. Bundesliga Magdeburg 5th 16 points from nine games | Last weekend Magdeburg 6–1 Against Karlsruhe, their biggest second-tier win | This season Bayern Unbeaten The only side in Europe's top five leagues |
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| 01 The Big Take |
| This is a cup tie Bayern should win. The question is who they win it with. |
| Magdeburg are fifth in the 2. Bundesliga, two points off second place, and arrive in form. They beat Karlsruhe 6–1 at the weekend, and won their first-round tie 4–0 against Balinger SC, the biggest cup win in the club's history. |
| Bayern are the holders and the only unbeaten side left in Europe's top five leagues. But Saturday is first against second, Dortmund at home. Danks has to pick a team that wins tonight without spending what he needs at the weekend. |
| Danks visited Kompany in hospital this week. He said Kompany is "in good spirits" and that "it looks like it gets better every day" (our translation). They didn't talk about football. |
| Bayern won the cup last season. The only time they lost to Magdeburg in it, Elber missed a penalty. |
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| Team news is from Tuesday's press conference, via FC Bayern, FCBinside and Nord24 (dpa). It may change before kick-off. |
| 02 The Tactical Take |
| Four things that decide it |
| 1 · Who plays: the rotation question |
| Previews expect changes, with Dortmund on Saturday. Goal's predicted line-up has Kane on the bench and Karl, Gnabry and Saibari behind a reshaped front line. Nobody knows yet. The more Danks rests, the more this becomes a real tie. |
| 2 · Midfield: Pavlović and Kim are close |
| Both trained on the pitch again this week. Danks: "With Minjae and Aleks, we know they are one step further. We'll see." Kimmich is still out, but Danks expects him back this week. |
| 3 · Goal: Urbig again |
| Neuer has a tendon strain in his foot and won't play. Urbig starts, as he did at Freiburg. |
| 4 · Magdeburg's belief |
| Coach Petrik Sander said that without belief "you don't even need to travel" (our translation). Expect Magdeburg to sit deep and look for the counter-attack. Bayern have conceded after the 80th minute in each of their last three games. |
| Magdeburg are without Lubambo Musonda (Achilles). The club says Momo Kwarteng is highly unlikely to play. |
| 03 The Numbers |
16 Magdeburg's points from nine 2. Bundesliga games. Fifth, two points behind second-placed Nürnberg. |
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4–0 Magdeburg's first-round win against Balinger SC. The biggest cup win in the club's history. |
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2000 The year Magdeburg knocked Bayern out of the cup. 1–1 after extra time, 4–2 on penalties. |
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3 Games in a row in which Bayern have conceded after the 80th minute. A pattern worth watching against an underdog with nothing to lose. |
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| 04 The One Thing You Missed |
Beyond the headlines Magdeburg have done this before What we saw On 1 November 2000, Magdeburg, then a fourth-tier side, drew 1–1 with Bayern after extra time and won the shootout 4–2. Jens Jeremies and Giovane Elber missed. Elber told Sky this week that Bayern had been "too sure" of themselves (our translation). What we think it means Bayern won the Champions League that season. Cup upsets don't need a weak Bayern, just a careless one. A heavily rotated side three days before the Klassiker is exactly that risk. |
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| 05 The Counterargument |
| Maybe this is just a routine night |
| — Bayern are the holders. Kane scored in every round last season, including a hat-trick in the final. Even a changed side has Olise, Gnabry and Karl to call on. |
| — The gap is two divisions. Magdeburg are a good second-tier side, not a Bundesliga one. |
| — Rotation can help. Players like Karl, Saibari and Boey need minutes. A cup tie at home is the place to give them. |
| 06 What to Watch |
| Four things to look for on Wednesday |
1 | The team sheet. How many changes, and whether Kane starts. |
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2 | Pavlović and Kim. If either plays, it's a good sign for Saturday. |
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3 | The first 20 minutes. Magdeburg will try to ride the energy of the occasion. An early Bayern goal takes it away. |
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4 | The last ten. Three late goals conceded in three games. A cup tie doesn't forgive that. |
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| Out for Bayern: Neuer (foot), Musiala (muscle), Díaz (hamstring), Kimmich (personal reasons). Kompany is still recovering; Danks takes the team. |
The B90 Question How many changes should Danks make with Dortmund on Saturday? Tell us on X @Beyond90Bayern. We'll pick up the best answers in the post-match issue. |
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Next: Bayern v Borussia Dortmund
Bundesliga · Matchday 8 · first v second
Sat 31 Oct · 17:30 UK |
| Sources: FC Bayern: preview, Danks quotes, team news · FCBinside: Pavlović, Kim, Neuer update · Nord24 (dpa): Kompany, Kimmich · Sky Sport: Elber, Sander, the 2000 upset · Goal: Magdeburg form and table · Results and table: GoalIQ |
BEYOND 90 Bayern Munich, beyond the scoreline. Tactical insight. Honest analysis. Opinions you won't get from the usual coverage. An independent publication. Not affiliated with or endorsed by FC Bayern München. |
