'The race is on': Thioune promises changes for werder vs bayern

Short preview: Daniel Thioune wrapped up his first full week in charge of Werder Bremen and signalled a clear shift ahead of the home clash with Bayern Munich on Saturday at 9: 30 a. m. ET. The Bayern side will be missing key winger Michael Olise through suspension, while Werder's coach says the starting XI will not mirror last weekend's selection.

Thioune completes first full training week

Daniel Thioune has now overseen a complete week of training with Werder, giving him fresh impressions of his squad and a clearer sense of the changes he wants to implement. The opening weekend under his leadership left few visible alterations on the team sheet, but Thioune stressed that initial matches rarely allow enough time to rewire structures and habits.

Lineup changes promised for the Bayern test

Thioune was blunt about the need for patience beyond the inner circle of his dressing room, but made a firm promise about selection: the same eleven that started in Freiburg will not be repeated. "You can be sure that it won't be the same eleven from last weekend, " he said, emphasising that the week of work has given him the basis for concrete personnel decisions. He added that changing structures and sparking processes "takes time, " but that he now has the impressions to act.

Samuel Mbangula still under evaluation

High-profile signing Samuel Mbangula sat on the bench for the loss at Freiburg, and questions remain about how the ten-million euro recruit will be integrated. Thioune acknowledged that supporters were expecting a more immediate impact from a fresh coaching arrival, but warned that instant transformations are rare. The manager indicated that selection will be performance-driven and that there will be opportunities for players who have impressed in training during the week.

Bayern to cope without Michael Olise

Bayern face Werder without influential winger Michael Olise, who must serve a suspension after picking up a booking in a recent league match. The halt ends an impressive run of Bundesliga availability for the Frenchman; his absence provides an opening for others in the Bayern attack.

Manager Vincent Kompany has suggested rotations to cover Olise's role, with projective choices pointing to Lennart Karl on the right, Luis Díaz on the left and Jamal Musiala operating centrally behind Harry Kane. Kompany framed the situation as manageable, noting that a suspension is part of the game and emphasising that Olise's fitness remains fine.

High stakes: relegation battle meets championship charge

The clash sharpens contrasting trajectories. Werder are fighting to climb out of the lower reaches of the Bundesliga table, where every point carries weight in the survival fight. Bayern head into the fixture from the summit, chasing consistency in a title bid. The historical context adds spice: Werder sit surprisingly close to Bayern in the all-time Bundesliga points list, but current form could not be more different.

Outlook and what to watch

Watch for how quickly Thioune's tweaks alter Werder's shape and intensity. Will he persist with the three-man defence used in Freiburg or switch systems to unsettle Bayern? On the opposing bench, Bayern's ability to adapt without Olise will be crucial — the replacements will need to replicate the Frenchman's creativity and forward thrust. The game will be an early litmus test for Thioune's mandate and for Bayern's depth.

The tie kicks off on Saturday at 9: 30 a. m. ET, delivering a high-profile midseason measuring stick: can a coach still settling in spark an immediate turnaround, or will Bayern's momentum prove too strong even without one of their key wingers?