Buckle up, Bundesliga fans! This Friday, the Allianz Arena becomes the stage for a blockbuster as TSG Hoffenheim dare to challenge the might of Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern Munich in a pivotal encounter that could reshape the championship chase.
Bayern Munich v Hoffenheim Form
Bayern Munich emerged victorious from their encounter with Wolfsburg, edging them out 2-1 at Volkswagen Arena. Jamal Musiala and Harry Kane provided the firepower, securing the three points for the Bavarians despite the Wolves giving a good account of themselves with seven shots on target. Bayern dominated possession with 59%, but Wolfsburg’s tenacity shone through.
Hoffenheim, unfortunately, couldn’t quite break the deadlock in their last match, drawing 3-3 against Darmstadt at PreZero Arena. Despite having four shots on target and maintaining 44% of possession, they couldn’t convert their dominance into a win. The result leaves them hungry for points as they head into their clash with Bayern.
The Bavarians and Hoffenheim last faced off at Allianz Arena, where the spoils were shared in a tightly contested 1-1 draw. With both teams looking to make amends for their recent results, this upcoming encounter promises to be a battle of contrasting styles and ambitions.
Bayern Munich v Hoffenheim Team News
Both Bayern Munich and TSG Hoffenheim navigate injury concerns as they prepare for their Bundesliga encounter.
Bayern lost Noussair Mazraoui and Kim Min-jae to the Africa Cup and Asian Cup respectively, with Serge Gnabry, Bouna Sarr, Gabriel Marusic, Daniel Peretz, and Tarek Buchmann sidelined for various reasons. However, Matthijs de Ligt is back from illness, and Konrad Laimer should shake off a knee concern to potentially fill in at right-back. Despite interest in Eric Dier and Nordi Mukiele, Dayot Upamecano and De Ligt are expected to remain the central defensive pairing.
Hoffenheim have their own AFCON absence in Diadie Samassekou, but Dennis Geiger returns after a groin issue. Bambase Conte faces a similar setback, while Marco John and Mergim Berisha miss the rest of the season with ACL tears. Defender Kevin Vogt could be on the move to Union Berlin, but for now, he should join John Brooks and Ozan Kabak in a familiar back three. Wout Weghorst might make his comeback from a muscle problem.
Possible Lineups:
Bayern Munich: Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, De Ligt, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Sane, Musiala, Coman; Kane
Hoffenheim: Baumann; Vogt, Brooks, Kabak; Stach; Kaderabek, Promel, Grillitsch, Skov; Bebou, Kramaric
Bayern Munich v Hoffenheim H2H
Bayern Munich boasts a strong recent track record against TSG Hoffenheim, securing victory in 21 out of the last 32 matches between the two teams. In contrast, TSG Hoffenheim has only managed four wins. Notably, Bayern Munich has suffered just one defeat in their last 15 home matches against TSG Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga, with that lone loss occurring in 2019 with a 2-1 scoreline.
Furthermore, Bayern Munich has faced challenges in winning their first Bundesliga game of the calendar year over the past two years, marking their lengthiest such streak in the competition since 1978. On the flip side, TSG Hoffenheim has struggled, clinching only one victory in their last seven Bundesliga matches, with only SV Darmstadt holding a poorer record during this period.
Highlighting their strong start to the league campaign, Bayern Munich has amassed an impressive 38 points in the first 15 Bundesliga matches, marking their best beginning to a season in eight years.
Prediction
A decisive 3-1 victory for Bayern Munich appears to be the most likely outcome, taking into account their superior scoring prowess and playing on home turf. While Hoffenheim possesses some offensive fire, it’s unlikely to be enough to withstand Bayern’s offensive storm.
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