Bayern Munich vs. Hoffenheim preview: Can the Bavarians bounce back?
After suffering a heavy defeat in Tuesday's Champions League clash with Manchester City, Bayern Munich will be looking for a response when they play host to Hoffenheim on Saturday.
Bayern Munich
Thomas Tuchel has experienced a mixed start to his tenure as Bayern boss. A crucial victory over Borussia Dortmund in his first game in charge was followed by a home defeat to Freiburg in the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal. The Bavarians got their revenge over Christian Streitch's side last weekend, claiming a narrow 1-0 away victory, but their midweek trip to Manchester turned out to be a forgettable experience.
Manchester City cruised to a 3-0 victory in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie, leaving Bayern's European hopes hanging by a thread. However, headlines have focused on events after the game rather than what happened on the pitch at the Etihad Stadium. Sadio Mané reportedly punched his teammate Leroy Sané in the dressing room following Tuesday's defeat, and the former Liverpool striker has since apologised and been suspended by the club for Saturday's fixture.
After experiencing a dramatic few days, Tuchel will have to refocus his side for their home meeting with Hoffenheim. Bayern currently boasts a two-point lead at the top of the table over title rivals Borussia Dortmund, and their home record suggests that they will be confident of maintaining that gap at the very least.
The Bavarians have not lost a home game in the Bundesliga since January 2022, and they have won eight of their previous 10 league matches at the Allianz Arena, including their last four.
Team News
In addition to Mané's absence, Bayern will also be unable to call upon Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. The Cameroon international returned to training on Thursday, but he is not fit to return against Hoffenheim. The hosts are also without the services of long-term absentees Manuel Neuer and Lucas Hernandez.
Hoffenheim
After losing his first five competitive games as Hoffenheim boss, Pellegrini Matarazzo has instigated an upturn in fortunes in recent weeks. A run of three consecutive victories began with a 3-1 win over Hertha Berlin on March 18, ending the club's 14-game winless run in the Bundesliga.
Hoffenheim went on to beat Werder Bremen 2-1 before claiming a 2-0 home victory over Schalke last weekend thanks to an Alex Král own goal and an Ihlas Bebou spot-kick. Having picked up maximum points from their last three games, Die Kraichgauer have begun to move away from the drop zone with five points separating them from the bottom three. With seven matches left to play, they are not out of the woods yet and Matarazzo will be warning his side against complacency.
The Hoffenheim boss will be looking to avoid defeat at the Allianz Arena for the second time this season after his Stuttgart side held Bayern to a 2-2 draw earlier in September.
Team News
Kevin Vogt, Justin Che and Jacob Bruun Larsen are sidelined with injury issues, while Mu'nas Dabbur will serve the final game of a three-match suspension.