Nagelsmann demands 'great performance' and 3 points against Hertha BSC

On Saturday evening, fourth-placed FC Bayern host bottom-placed Hertha BSC at the Allianz Arena for the outstanding fixture of Matchday 3 (live text and webradio commentary from 18:30 CEST on fcbayern.com). Find out everything you need to know about the match in the preview from fcbayern.com.

Enjoy the best images from Bayern's final training session on Friday before the home game against Hertha in our gallery:

The situation for FC Bayern

The somewhat bumpy pre-season has long been forgotten and Bayern are now fully back on track: After three consecutive victories in competitive matches, the men from Munich now intend to pile on the pressure at the top of the table again. FCB head coach Julian Nagelsmann wasn't interested in hearing anything about his team now facing supposedly easy opponents (Hertha are bottom) in Berlin on Friday: "Who is last and first is completely irrelevant after just two matchdays. There are three points up for grabs against every opponent. We intend to live up to what's expected of us and put on a great performance for the 25,000 spectators," demanded the 34-year-old. The clear goal is to go into the international break at the beginning of September with another sense of achievement: "It's all about three points - and we intend to get them!"

The opponents: Hertha BSC

For the Berlin, club the start of the season was anything but ideal. Pál Dárdai's team went ahead in both matches against 1. FC Köln (3-1) and VfL Wolfsburg (2-1), but ended up losing both games. So Hertha start this matchday bottom of the table - but for their coach, the game against the German record champions has come at just the right time in what is a difficult situation: "You have less pressure against big teams - that certainly has something to do with psychological factors. The pitch is the same size against every opposition and we also play teams like Bayern Munich twice a season," explained the Hungarian, drawing hope from previous clashes with Bayern. "Against Munich we've often given a good account of ourselves, and we'll stay consistent with our approach!"

Team news, tactics and more: Watch Julian Nagelsmann's pre-match press conference before the game against Hertha again (with English translation) here:

Team news for Bayern vs. Hertha

Die im Pokal unter der Woche geschonten Manuel Neuer, Robert Lewandowski und Leon Goretzka werden gegen die Hertha in den Kader zurückkehren. „Alle drei werden spielen können. Sie sind wieder bei hundert Prozent der Kräfte angekommen“, bestätigte Nagelsmann. Auch Kingsley Coman ist nach einer Einblutung am Gesäßmuskel wieder einsatzbereit. Lucas Hernández ist zudem mittlerweile zurück im Mannschaftstraining, ist nach seiner Knie-Operation aber laut des FCB-Coachs noch keine Option für Samstag. Genauso wie auch Benjamin Pavard (Bandverletzung im Sprunggelenk) und Marc Roca (Außenbandriss im Sprunggelenk).

Hertha will most likely travel to Munich without striker Krzysztof Piatek, who, according to Dárdai, will have to postpone his comeback after breaking his foot. Midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng is also likely to miss out with back problems. "I don't think he'll make it," revealed coach Dárdai, who will also be without his son Marton (ankle problems) and keeper Rune Jarstein (following a positive test for Covid-19).

What the coaches say

Julian Nagelsmann: "Hertha were unlucky in two games. They've made some interesting signings, have a good squad and a good structure. When they play on the counter-attack, especially, they're incredibly dangerous because of the pace they have on both wings. I expect we'll have the ball more, but will be faced with a big task, especially in our residual defence. We'll have to have a good game to be successful and will have to deploy all our resources."

Pál Dárdai (Hertha BSC head coach): "We don't look at how other teams have tried to play there - we'll stay true to our system. It'll be important for us to go to the limit in terms of putting in the legwork. Bayern have let experienced players go, so they look a bit different in my eyes. We're prepared and always have a plan. Every team is capable of scoring, but even the world's best teams make mistakes - we're going to try to get everything we can out of it."

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