Normally, Vincent Kompany keeps tight-lipped about questions regarding the lineup. It was different on Friday morning, when he made a firm decision and also announced the comeback of two pros.
Vincent Kompany has taken the unusual step of confirming a starter well in advance, announcing that Jonas Urbig will get the nod in goal on Saturday away to Borussia Mönchengladbach.
The decision is designed to restore match rhythm for the young goalkeeper before he fills in for the suspended Manuel Neuer in the DFB Pokal second round at 1. FC Köln next Wednesday. Given Bayern’s recent frustrations in domestic cup competitions, the staff are determined to eliminate any avoidable risks, and that includes ensuring the deputy keeper is sharp and fully integrated with the back line.
Urbig’s situation is straightforward. His last competitive appearance came two months ago, when he already stepped in for Neuer during the first round at Wehen Wiesbaden, a hard-fought 3-2 that demanded focus under pressure. Since then he has not seen the pitch, which can dull timing on crosses, long distribution patterns, and communication cues with center backs and full backs. A start in the Bundesliga, against a traditional rival and in front of a lively crowd, offers exactly the kind of high-tempo rehearsal that a cup goalkeeper rarely enjoys. Bayern expect Gladbach to test the penalty area with early deliveries and direct counters, which will force Urbig to command his six-yard box and coordinate the line’s depth.
Neuer will travel to Borussia-Park and take his place on the bench, a detail Kompany underlined as part of the internal clarity around roles this week. The captain’s presence matters in two ways. First, it keeps the regular hierarchy intact, which is often essential for defensive cohesion. Second, it gives Urbig a trusted voice on the touchline, reinforcing observations about spacing, restarts, and pressing triggers. Neuer’s suspension in the cup, carried over from last season’s red card against Leverkusen, is not a long-term problem but it does require a short-term plan that prioritizes rhythm and confidence.
Team news elsewhere is encouraging for Bayern. Kompany indicated that Josip Stanisic and Serge Gnabry should rejoin the matchday squad provided they complete Friday’s session without setbacks. Gnabry’s recent absence was precautionary after minor discomfort, and he only missed the narrow win over Dortmund and the convincing victory against Club Brugge. His return restores a direct, inside-out threat on either flank, plus the ability to make diagonal runs that open the half spaces for Jude Bellingham like surges from midfielders or for underlaps from attacking full backs. Stanisic’s comeback after a knee issue offers tactical flexibility. He can start as a full back on either side, tuck in as an auxiliary center back in a back three build, or operate as a conservative balance piece when the opposite full back pushes high. In matches where the opponent looks to spring counters into the channels, that profile is invaluable.
The stakes in Mönchengladbach are as clear as they are demanding. Bayern are chasing a 13th win in as many competitive matches, a target that supports both momentum and squad belief. On paper, it is a top versus bottom scenario, but neither Kompany nor sporting director Max Eberl is treating it that way. Kompany referenced his time fighting at the wrong end of the table with Burnley to emphasize how desperate and dangerous a last-place side can be. Teams at the bottom often compress space, tackle aggressively in midfield, and play with a nothing to lose mentality that can tilt individual duels. Eberl, who knows the Gladbach environment intimately, reminded everyone that Bayern’s visit is circled on calendars every season. Emotion, noise, and a willingness to run beyond the ball can level stretches of the match regardless of league position.
From a tactical standpoint, there are several threads to watch. With Urbig in goal, Bayern may prefer a slightly more conservative starting line height in the first 15 minutes, allowing the keeper to settle into his passing rhythm and claim a first cross early. Expect the pivots to show shorter more frequently in the initial build to reduce long distribution and to manage Gladbach’s first press wave. If Gnabry is fit enough for minutes, he adds a different profile to Leroy Sané and Kingsley Coman. Gnabry’s intuition to arrive late at the far post and his compact ball control in tight corridors can help break a compact 4-4-2 mid block. Should Stanisic feature, his presence could free Alphonso Davies or another attack-minded full back to take aggressive positions without leaving the rest defense undermanned.
For Gladbach, the blueprint will likely involve quick verticality and targeted pressure on Bayern’s right-sided build. Forcing turnovers that isolate Urbig and the nearest center back could invite early shots from secondary runs. Set pieces will be another battleground, both routine corners and hybrid restarts that seek the second ball at the edge of the area. Bayern, dominant in most phases this season, have nonetheless had occasional lapses at first contact from dead balls. A strong aerial showing from Dayot Upamecano and Minjae Kim would go a long way toward neutralizing that threat.
Bayern’s broader context also matters. Fixture density around European nights can tempt rotation, but Kompany has tried to maintain a spine while managing minutes smartly in the front line and full back areas. Giving Urbig the start now aligns with that approach. It is an isolated swap that maintains continuity for outfield structures and keeps the star goalkeeper fresh for league play while protecting the integrity of the cup plan. The internal message is consistency. The external message is professionalism. No complacency, no unnecessary risk, one game at a time.
Looking ahead to Köln in the DFB Pokal, the weekend rehearsal should sharpen details that can decide knockout ties. Tempo of goal kicks, triggers for short versus long restarts, and the chemistry on back passes under pressure will be logged and reviewed. If Bayern handle the atmosphere in Gladbach and manage transitions with their now customary calm, they will carry a refined rhythm into the cup match where the margin for error is thinner and the weight of recent history is heavier.
In short, Kompany’s early reveal is less headline chasing and more methodical planning. Urbig gets the competitive edge he needs, Neuer remains embedded in the group dynamic, two key squad members return, and Bayern aim to extend a perfect start without overlooking a fixture that has historically sprung surprises. It is pragmatic management in service of two objectives at once, the league streak and the cup advance that the club and supporters expect.
