Should Bayern Munich rest key players vs. PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League?

"In all likelihood, the outcome of Bayern Munich's Champions League tilt vs. PSV Eindhoven will not have a massive impact on what happens to the Bavarians later on in this competition. Sure, seeding is at stake - and that is very important, no doubt - but Bayern Munich is reeling a bit at the moment. The German Rekordmeister has a slew of players either hurt or sick or coming off of injuries or illnesses."

"The locker room facility at Säbener Straße should be nuked and rebuilt at this point just to be sure that virus ripping its way through the team is gone. The recent barrage of ailments has left the healthy players to rack up a ton of mileage and pick up some bumps and bruises along the way as well. At some point, those guys need a rest, too."

"Given that Bayern Munich has already secured a spot in the Round of 16, will Vincent Kompany opt to rest his normal starters and try to get them back on track...or will he honor the competition (the outcome does hold a lot of meaning for PSV Eindhoven and a bunch of teams, who reside directly above or directly below the Dutch powerhouse in the Champions League table) and send his best team out?"

"Bear in mind, resting some key players does not guarantee a loss, either, as it would give some other players a chance to step up and showcase themselves. For the betterment of the team and to set the squad up to be healthy in the latter stages of this competition, what should Kompany do? Tell us in the comments below!"

Bayern Munich is coping with a wave of injuries, illnesses, and players returning from recent ailments. The team’s locker room at Säbener Straße is described as contaminated by a virus spreading through the squad. Healthy players have accumulated heavy minutes, producing fatigue, bumps, and bruises. Bayern has already secured a spot in the Champions League Round of 16, making the next match significant mostly for seeding. Vincent Kompany must decide whether to rest regular starters to prioritize recovery or to field the strongest team out of respect for the competition and to influence other teams' standings. Resting starters could also allow fringe players to showcase themselves.

Read at Bavarian Football Works