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Embattled Bayern hunt Thiago replacement (Guardian)

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(FILES) In this file photo taken on October 02, 2018 Bayern Munich's Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara walks at the field during the UEFA Champions League Group E football match between Bayern Munich and Ajax Amsterdam in Munich, southern Germany. - Thiago Alcantara suffers from an ankle injury since the narrow German cup win against SV Roedinghausen on October 31, 2018 in Osnabrueck, western Germany. Despite starting with 11 internationals, Bayern scraped past fourth-tier Roedinghausen 2-1 in the second round tie as Thiago was carried off late on. (Photo by Christof STACHE / AFP)

Bayern Munich are struggling to fill the creative hole left by Thiago Alcantara’s injury as they host AEK in the Champions League on Wednesday trying to secure a last 16 berth with trouble brewing for head coach Niko Kovac.

Bayern can reach the knockout stages if they beat the Greek champions AEK at Munich’s Allianz Arena and Benfica lose at Ajax in the other Group E match.

However, Bayern have been struggling for creativity since Thiago tore ankle ligaments ten days ago and Joshua Kimmich, usually a right-back, has struggled to replace him in the central midfield role.

Kimmich lost 14 of his 16 challenges for the ball and several passes went astray in Saturday’s lethargic 1-1 draw against Freiburg, which left Bayern third in the league table, four points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund.

Kovac has other central midfield options to replace Thiago against AEK in James Rodriguez, Renato Sanches or Leon Goretzka. Read more

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