Continuing their pre-season tour of Asia, Bayern Munich meet last year's J1 League runners-up Kawasaki Frontale at Tokyo National Stadium on Saturday.
While Kawasaki are already deep into their 2023 campaign, the German champions are still weeks away from kicking off the new season.
Match preview
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Preparing for the 2023-24 season's curtain-raiser on August 12, when they meet DFB-Pokal winners RB Leipzig in the DFL-Super Cup, Bayern Munich have embarked on a quick trip to Japan and Singapore.
In the first major contest of Die Roten's warm-up schedule, they followed up last week's 27-0 win over ninth-tier Rottach-Egern with a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City in Tokyo - another loss against last term's Champions League conquerors.
Trailing by a goal heading into the second half, Bayern striker Mathys Tel seemed to have claimed a draw with a clinical finish in the 81st minute, but City - who won April's quarter-final tie between the clubs 4-1 on aggregate - struck again late on.
Before heading to Singapore for a clash with another Premier League heavyweight, Liverpool, Thomas Tuchel's side will next take on locally-based opponents in the Japanese capital, meeting Kawasaki Frontale for the first time.
Bayern lifted their 11th straight Bundesliga title last season, as Tuchel arrived mid-season and steered them over the finish line in a dramatic final-day finale, but better will still be expected by fans and club hierarchy alike in the months ahead.
Apparently chasing the signatures of experienced England duo Kyle Walker and Harry Kane, Bayern are also preparing to lose Sadio Mane to Saudi Arabia this summer, as they re-shape a star-studded squad for another shot at Champions League glory.
While the Bavarian giants have already won Europe's top club competition six times before, Kawasaki Frontale still await their first-ever Asian Champions League success - never making it beyond the quarter-finals despite several recent attempts.
The Azzurro Nero have, however, been crowned Japanese champions four times in the past six seasons; claiming top spot in the J1 League in 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2021, before finishing two points adrift of Yokohama F Marinos in second place last year.
In their most recent league outings, Kawasaki met Marinos at Nissan Stadium and recorded a last-gasp 1-0 win, before going on to draw 2-2 with Vissel Kobe last weekend.
Toru Oniki's side now sit a disappointing seventh in the standings after 21 matches, and averaging just over a goal per game represents one of their main flaws this term.
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Team News
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Despite being linked with a move to either England or Serie A side Inter Milan, Yann Sommer remains in the Bayern Munich squad this week and will most likely start against Kawasaki Frontale.
Sven Ulreich is also available as cover for first-choice goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (leg), who remains on Die Roten's injury list alongside Thomas Muller (hip), Malik Tillman (hamstring) Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (knee) and summer signing Raphael Guerreiro (muscular).
With Choupo-Moting sidelined, Sadio Mane out of favour and no breakthrough in the Harry Kane saga imminent, Serge Gnabry should start up front, though Mathys Tel will hope his goal against Manchester City can earn him promotion to the first XI.
New recruit Kim Min-jae was not involved on Wednesday, but he may now make his Bayern debut at centre-back.
Meanwhile, Kawasaki will be without the services of Brazilian pair Jesiel (knee) and Leandro Damiao (ankle) once again. The latter - an ex-Internacional forward with 17 senior Brazil caps to his name - has been out of action for over a month now.
Japan international Yu Kobayashi and well-travelled winger Marcinho both have hamstring problems so are not available to Toru Oniki either.
Amid such a string of absences, Shin Yamada led the attack against Vissel Kobe last week, and despite scoring just two league goals so far in 2023, he should do so again on Saturday.
Kawasaki Frontale possible starting lineup:
Jung; Yamane, Takai, Kurumaya, Noborizato; Wakizaka, Schmidt, Seko; Ienaga, Yamada, Miyashiro
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Sommer; Pavard, Kim, Upamecano, Davies; Kimmich, Gravenberch; Sane, Musiala, Coman; Gnabry
We say: Kawasaki Frontale 1-2 Bayern Munich
Kawasaki may be amid their domestic season - while Bayern Munich are still undercooked at this stage of the summer - but the Bundesliga champions' strength in depth means they should ultimately be too hot to handle.
Even if Thomas Tuchel rotates his squad, tough competition for places will ensure Bayern players will go all-out to impress their demanding head coach - and their opponents lack a real threat up front.
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