Hoffenheim v Bayern Munich preview
Buoyed by an 8-1 aggregate victory over Red Bull Salzburg, Bayern Munich will look to close in on the Bundesliga title with a positive result on Saturday, but they will be tested by a Hoffenheim side that are in imperious form.
Hoffenheim
After seeing Bayern thump Red Bull Salzburg 7-1 in midweek, it is safe to say that Hoffenheim may not be looking forward to Saturday’s contest. However, if they are to face the German champions then this is as good as time as any, with Hoffenheim eyeing a fifth consecutive victory.
After 21 games Hoffenheim sat in eighth place, but maximum points from their next four matches saw them climb into the Champions League places. Despite enjoying a fine run of results, there is no time for Die Kraichgauer to rest on their laurels with RB Leipzig and Freiburg hot on their heels.
Having kept two clean sheets in their last four matches, Hoffenheim’s defence enter Saturday’s contest with an air of confidence, but they will be aware that they will be severely tested by the league’s highest scorers. At the other end of the pitch, the hosts will be hopeful that they can offer a threat, having scored in 11 of their 12 Bundesliga home matches this season.
Hoffenheim have several absentees to contend with. Ermin Bičakčić, Håvard Nordtveit, Sebastian Rudy and Robert Skov are all ruled out due to injury issues. Despite those injury problems, Sebastian Hoeneß is expected to name an unchanged lineup for the Bayern clash.
Bayern Munich
Bayern enjoys the comfort of a nine-point cushion at the top of the league table, although second-placed Borussia Dortmund do possess a game in hand. Any frustration from dropping points against Bayer Leverkusen last weekend was released in midweek, when the Bavarians booked their place in the Champions League quarter-finals in emphatic style.
Entering the second leg, the tie seemed finely poised at 1-1. However, that was not the case after the opening 23 minutes. Robert Lewandowski scored the earliest hat-trick in Champions League history, while the 11-minute gap from first to the last goal made it the quickest ever hat-trick in the Champions League knockout stages. Four more goals from the Bavarians wrapped up an 8-1 aggregate victory with the result also extending Bayern’s unbeaten run to five matches in all competitions.
Like Leverkusen last weekend, Saturday’s contest with Hoffenheim represents a potential stumbling block for the reigning champions in their title charge. Their trip to the PreZero Arena last season ended in a 4-1 defeat, although Bayern did dispatch Hoffenheim by a 4-0 scoreline in the reverse fixture this term and another victory on Saturday would edge Julian Nagelmann’s side ever closer to a tenth consecutive title.
Corentin Tolisso and Leon Goretzka have returned to training following their respective injury issues, but Saturday’s contest may come too soon for the pair. After starting the last two-three matches, Jamal Musiala is expected to retain his place in the Bayern midfield.