How Bayern Munich could line up against Red Bull Salzburg

Bayern Munich will be looking to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League for the 13th consecutive season by defeating Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday.

Having won their opening three matches of Group A, including a thrilling 6-2 victory in their most recent encounter with Salzburg, Hansi Flick 's side are just one win away from safely securing a place in the last 16 of Europe's elite competition once again.

Salzburg, meanwhile, will be left with a mountain to climb should they fail to pick up a positive result in Munich. Jesse Marsch 's side have gained only one point from their opening three matches, and should they lose to Bayern as expected, they could find themselves six points behind Atletico Madrid with only two matches remaining should the Spaniards defeat Lokomotiv Moscow in the other match in the group on Wednesday.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how the Bavarians could line up for Wednesday's Champions League showdown with the Austrian champions.

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Out: Joshua Kimmich (knee), Alphonso Davies (ankle)

Doubtful: Lucas Hernandez (pelvis), Corentin Tolisso (muscular)

> Click here for Bayern Munich's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

Bayern will definitely be without key players Joshua Kimmich and Alphonso Davies for the match against Salzburg.

Kimmich sustained meniscus damage after coming off worse in a tackle with Erling Braut Haaland during the 3-2 win against Borussia Dortmund on November 7. The Germany midfielder is unlikely to return to first-team action until the New Year.

Davies, meanwhile, was substituted in only the third minute of Bayern's 5-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on October 24. The Canada left-back was confirmed to have torn a ligament in his ankle and is likely to return at some point in early December.

Lucas Hernandez has capably replaced Davies in recent weeks, but he is a doubt for the game against Salzburg having bruised his pelvic region in a collision with Theodor Gebre Selassie during the 1-1 draw against Werder Bremen on Saturday. The France defender was substituted in only the 19th minute and Flick admitted he is not likely to take any risks, with Bouna Sarr a potential replacement.

Flick's other option is to utilise Javi Martinez or Jerome Boateng alongside Niklas Sule in central defence, with David Alaba moving to left-back, a position from which he previously thrived for so many years at the Allianz Arena.

Corentin Tolisso, meanwhile, played no part in the draw with Bremen having withdrawn from the France national team squad on November 15. His national team coach Didier Deschamps described it as only a "minor injury", with the midfielder recently resuming full training. However, like Hernandez, he may not be risked ahead of the weekend's league meeting with FC Koln.

Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane were rested against Bremen and are likely to come into the side on either flank.