Flick aiming to 'lay down marker with fifth straight win'

On Friday evening, FC Bayern will kick off Bundesliga Matchday 20 with a visit to Hertha BSC (live text and webradio commentary from 20:00 CET on fcbayern.com). As Hansi Flick's team will leave for the FIFA Club World Cup straight after the final whistle, the kick-off has been brought forward by half an hour. fcbayern.com has put together everything you need to know about the clash in the capital.

Find out here about the other important games being played on Matchday 20:

The situation for FC Bayern

The game at Hertha marks the start of a busy few weeks for FC Bayern, with up to seven games in 23 days. All the more important that the Reds are on a terrific run of form ahead of the mammoth programme, with the maximum 12 points taken from the last four games - and the mood in the team is, accordingly, upbeat. "The team have been very focussed and having fun, the intensity has been very high. I really liked that," said Bayern coach Flick, describing his impressions of the recent training sessions. The goal now is to take that momentum with us to Berlin: "Of course we want to get the fifth straight win in the fifth game at Hertha, to lay down a marker to the Bundesliga that we're back on the road to success," demanded the 55-year-old of his team.

Check out our gallery for the best images from Bayern's final training session before leaving for Berlin:

The opponents: Hertha BSC

While Bayern are aiming for their fifth win in a row, opponents Hertha are winless in five games, and their tally of one point from that period is the worst of any team in the league. In the first match after Pál Dárdai succeeded Bruno Labbadia as coach, Hertha also came away pointless after losing 3-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt. However, the Hungarian coach now sees his team well equipped for his home comeback against FCB. "We're well prepared and I have a good feeling," explained Dárdai, who was also in the dugout for Hertha's last win over Bayern at the end of September 2018 (2-0). Berlin's sporting director Arne Friedrich was also feeling optimistic: "Why shouldn't we be able to cause an upset? We've worked very hard."

In an interview with fcbayern.com, Thomas Müller gives his assessment of Bayern‘s upcoming opponents:

Team news for Schalke vs. FC Bayern

Javi Martínez and Leon Goretzka, who both recently had to self-isolate at home after testing positive for coronavirus, will miss out on the trip to Berlin. Flick, however, hopes the pair will be able to return for the Club World Cup. In addition, Alexander Nübel (following an ankle injury) and Tanguy Nianzou (following a thigh muscle tear) will continue their rehabilitative training in Munich.

For Friday's home game, Hertha will be without the long-term injured Javairô Dilrosun, Dedryck Boyata and the recently injured Jhon Córdoba and Marvin Plattenhart. Instead, Dárdai has new options for the central midfield and the attack in the two new winter arrivals, Sami Khedira and Nemanja Radonjić: "Both have worked well so far. But we have to weigh up exactly when to throw them on," explained the 44-year-old.

Team news, tactics and more: You can watch Hansi Flick's pre-match press conference before the match at Hertha (with English translation) here:

What the coaches say

Hansi Flick: "We've picked up 12 points from four games. Now, of course, we want to get our fifth straight win in the fifth game at Hertha to lay down a marker to the Bundesliga that we're back on the road to success. That's our goal!"

Pál Dárdai (Hertha BSC): "If Bayern München have a top day, you don't stand a chance. But if they have a normal day, you can accomplish something by working systematically against them. If no-one slacks off and you take advantage of good moments in possession and when you win the ball, then you'll get chances to score - and you have to use them effectively."

If you want to know more about the away game at Hertha, check out our facts and stats: