How Bayern Munich could line up against Borussia Monchengladbach

Bayern Munich have been boosted by several returns to the training pitch ahead of Friday's Bundesliga opener with Borussia Monchengladbach.

The likes of Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich and Robert Lewandowski are ready to go again following their Euro 2020 exploits, with the latter seeking to shatter more records following his 41-goal haul last season, but Benjamin Pavard has since suffered an ankle injury.

Two left-sided players in Alphonso Davies and Kingsley Coman have also rejoined training after overcoming their injury woes, while Corentin Tolisso has recovered from a bout of coronavirus but is expected to complete a move elsewhere this summer.

With Davies unlikely to be deemed ready for a start yet and Lucas Hernandez still recuperating from a knee injury, 21-year-old Josip Stanisic is rumoured to be set for a start at left-back, while Dayot Upamecano and Tanguy Nianzou form the centre-back partnership.

Germany teammates Kimmich and Leon Goretzka should act as Julian Nagelsmann's first-choice midfielders, but Marc Roca is set to miss the opening day with an ankle problem.

With Coman still needing time to build up his match fitness, Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry ought to get the nods out wide as tireless veteran Thomas Muller continues in the hole behind Lewandowski.

After breaking Gerd Muller's long-standing record last term, Lewandowski will now endeavour to fire Bayern to their 10th successive league title, and he has found the back of the net on the opening day six seasons in a row.

Bayern possible starting lineup: Neuer; Sarr, Nianzou, Upamecano, Stanisic; Kimmich, Goretzka; Gnabry, Muller, Sane; Lewandowski