Hoffenheim are enjoying their best run of form this season having won their last four games, seeing them displace RB Leipzig to move into fourth on the log.
Bavaria, Munich: Football: Bundesliga, Bayern Munich – TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Matchday 9 at Allianz Arena. The Munich team cheers with the fans after the match. Photo: Sven Hoppe/dpa – IMPORTANT NOTE: In accordance with the regulations of the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga and/or the DFB Deutscher Fußball-Bund, it is prohibited to use or have used photographs taken in the stadium and/or of the match in the form of sequence pictures and/or video-like photo series. (Photo by Sven Hoppe/picture alliance via Getty Images)
It has been a contrasting fortune for Bayern lately albeit their 7-1 thumping of RB Salzburg in the Champions League, they have just two wins in their past five games.
They travel to the Rhein-Neckar Arena on Saturday afternoon to take on Hoffenheim. Heading into the game, the visitors will be hoping to extend their lead on the table after failing to capitalised on Borussia Dortmund’s postponed game last weekend, when they were held to a draw by Leverkusen.
Hoffenheim boast a two-point advantage over their closest chasers RB Leipzig, but with them hosting the Bavarians, they might find themselves back outside the top four at the end of the Gameweek.
Despite Bayern’s decade of dominance in Germany’s top flight football, playing on Hoffenheim’s turf has not been plain sailing as they find it on other grounds – they have lost three of their last five visits there.
As the two Managers face their former clubs, [Bayern] Coach Nagelsman will want nothing less than the maximum points as any other could put at risk his hopes of lifting his first coaching career league trophy.
The defending Champions won the reverse fixture 4-0 back in October but they lost 4-1 the last time they visited Hoffenheim at home.
Team news
Hoffenheim will be out without some of their regular players through injuries like Ermin Bicakcic, Havard Nordtveit, Robert Skov and captain Benjamin Hubner through COVID-19 while former Bayern Munich man Sebastian Rudy is also nursing a hamstring injury.
Chris Richards and Dennis Geiger are likely to return in time to at least make the bench. The long list of absentees could see the manager Sebastian Hoeness call on Nigeria defender Kevin Akpoguma alongside Florian and Posch, which makes them vulnerable against the powerful attack of the visitors.
Ihlas Bebou likely to be dropped from starting 11 after his last week horrible display.
Hoffenheim probable lineup:
Baumann; Akpoguma, Posch, Grillitsch; Kaderabek, Baumgartner, Samassekou, Stiller, Raum; Rutter/Dabbur, Kramaric
Bayern Munich
Manuel Neuer return from injury in the midweek seems the only positive news for the league leaders as all their injured players still sideline. Musiala who will be making his 50th Bundesliga appearance will likely continue at advanced 6 role in the absence of Leon Goretzka to partner Joshua Kimmich.
Either Serge Gnabry or Kingsley Coman might be drop after picking up slight knock against RB Salzburg of which they are now fit but due to precautions, the minutes might be shared between them.
Bayern Munich Probable lineup: Neuer; Pavard, Sule, Upamecano, Hernandez; Kimmich, Musiala; Gnabry, Muller, Sane; Lewandowski.
Author: Muhanmmed A. Ahmad
