How Bayern Munich Will Line Up Against Chelsea

In a start to life at Bayern Munich that has proven most difficult for Pep Guardiola, the new coach has an opportunity at his first genuine piece of silverware this season when his side face none other than Jose Mourinho's Chelsea in the European Super Cup on Friday. 

The tone will be that of exuberance as Bayern fans flock to the Stadion Eden in Praque to once more reminisce over their Wembley victory and again exert their dominance over the latest Euro contender.

For Guardiola, such an event is a stage that is simply thrust upon him. Win in absolute glory or lose in front of the spotlights. 

Tuesday's hiccup against Freiburg, where Bayern drew 1-1 in their latest Bundesliga duel, was a simple mistake made by a coach who has yet to completely acclimatise to the unusual nature of German football. But it's one that simply cannot be repeated twice in five days. 

As such, Guardiola is likely to throw everything his squad of stars have at this battle with his old Portuguese adversary. 

In goal, we are likely to see Manuel Neuer keep his ever-present role intact, while the back four will almost certainly consist of David Alaba at left-back and Philipp Lahm at right-back. The two centre-backs of Dante and Jerome Boateng make up the central pairing. 

Although Daniel Van Buyten started against Freiburg on Tuesday night, Guardiola has shown a keen interest in keeping the duo of Dante and Boateng together in the more important matches and as such is likely to keep to that method against Chelsea. 

It's once we get to midfield that things become a little trickier for Guardiola.

On Monday, the club reported that Thiago Alcantara had undergone successful surgery to repair ligament damage to his right ankle and will therefore be out of action until at least November.

Bastian Schweinsteiger also looked set for the injury list when he limped off the pitch in the match against Freiburg but was given the all-clear by the club Wednesday, via the club's official website, and is fit to start against Chelsea. 

This will undoubtedly mean that Bayern are likely to line up with five in midfield, with the aforementioned German international sitting in the defensive role. Franck Ribery will return from the bench to start on the left, while recent patterns in the past two games would suggest that Mario Gotze and Toni Kroos will make up the partnership in front of Schweinsteiger in the irregular midfield trio. 

Where Guardiola's puzzle truly lies is who he's likely to start on the right-hand side of the midfield.

Looking at his first three Bundesliga games, it would seem that the Catalonian coach is still undecided over whether he prefers to start Thomas Muller or Arjen Robben. Yet for the purpose of tackling Chelsea's attacking fullback, Ashley Cole, it would seem wise to start the young German forward due to his enthusiasm to defend with as much desire as he shows whilst attacking. 

This of course then leaves the simple matter of picking the lone striker.

A position that has but one true name written all over it despite Guardiola's best efforts to rotate his available forwards.

Yet Mario Mandzukic has been in excellent form in the two games in which he's started, scoring in one and causing all sorts of bother in the other and is a sure bet to lead the line for Bayern on Friday night.