Saibari starts for Bayern as Kane waits on the bench at Schalke

Ismael Saibari will make his first Bundesliga start for Bayern Munich against Schalke at Veltins-Arena on Saturday, with Harry Kane, Jamal Musiala and Michael Olise all named among the substitutes.

Bayern manager Vincent Kompany has selected the Morocco international in midfield for the second round of the German top flight, rewarding the 24-year-old after an encouraging start to his career at the club.

Saibari came off the bench in Bayern’s Bundesliga opener against Stuttgart and made an immediate impact by providing two assists. He then started in the German Cup against Osnabruck, before being handed his first league start by the Belgian coach.

Kompany has made several changes to his attacking line-up for the trip to Schalke. Kane, Musiala and Olise will begin the match on the bench, with the decision forming part of Bayern’s rotation plans ahead of their Champions League campaign.

Bayern are due to host Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt at Allianz Arena in Munich on Thursday in their opening Champions League fixture. The coaching staff have therefore opted to manage the workload of several of the club’s leading attacking players before that match.

Saibari’s inclusion is the most notable feature of the starting XI. His two assists against Stuttgart helped him establish an early influence after joining the first-team setup, while his appearance from the start against Osnabruck provided further evidence of Kompany’s confidence in him.

Bayern’s starting line-up is:

Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer

Defenders: Konrad Laimer, Jonathan Tah, Dayot Upamecano, Alphonso Davies

Midfielders: Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Ismael Saibari

Forwards: Nathaniel Brown, Lennart Karl, Luis Diaz

Kane’s absence from the starting line-up means Bayern will begin without their main centre-forward, while Musiala and Olise also provide attacking options from the substitutes’ bench. The trio could still be introduced during the match if Kompany decides his side need greater attacking presence.

The fixture gives Saibari an opportunity to make his mark in the Bundesliga from the outset after impressing in limited minutes at the beginning of the season. His first league start comes in an away match at Veltins-Arena, where Bayern will look to continue their early campaign momentum.

Kompany’s selection also highlights the depth available to the German champions, who face domestic and European commitments in the coming days. The visit of Bodø/Glimt at Allianz Arena is now part of the wider planning behind the changes made for the meeting with Schalke.

Bayern’s decision to rest several prominent attackers leaves Saibari among the players expected to carry greater responsibility from the opening whistle. The Morocco international will line up alongside Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic in midfield, with Bayern’s revised attack featuring Nathaniel Brown, Lennart Karl and Luis Diaz.