'Want to be champions as early as possible'
Fri, 16/04/2021, 18:16
Aiming straight for the title - Bayern challenged in Wolfsburg
FC Bayern visit third-placed VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday afternoon (live text and Webradio commentary from 15:30 CEST on fcbayern.com), where the reigning champions can take a big step towards a ninth successive league title. The Reds have a five-point lead over second-placed RB Leipzig with six matchdays left. Our preview has everything you need to know about the match.
Check out the best images from Bayern’s final training session ahead of the trip north:
The situation for FC Bayern
The hectic schedule right now does not leave Hansi Flick and his team much time to dwell over the unfortunate Champions League exit in Paris in midweek. “The games keep coming and we have a big challenge in front of us,” said the 56-year-old ahead of another busy week, in which FCB have “three very difficult and important games for our target for the season”, as Flick described. “We want to give everything and be champions as early as possible. For that we need another win and three points in Wolfsburg,” stressed the Bayern boss. And his team are in the right form, having collected 16 of a possible 18 points from their last six Bundesliga matches.
Bayern won in Paris in midweek – but sadly it was not enough to progress:
The opponents: VfL Wolfsburg
Even after last Saturday’s 4-3 defeat against top-four rivals Eintracht Frankfurt, Wolfsburg are still well placed to return to the Champions League after a five-year absence. “We’re in third place and we’ll do everything we can to finish in the Champions League places,” declared VfL coach Oliver Glasner, who said that all their remaining fixtures are “a final, a game of the year”. While they have “great respect” for Bayern, the Austrian is backing his side to get something from Saturday’s encounter – and justifiably so, as the Wolves are unbeaten at home in the league in nearly 10 months. “If we produce the necessary effectiveness on the day, I believe we can win,” highlighted the 46-year-old, pointing to his side’s narrow defeat in the reverse fixture in December. “We’re capable of creating one or two goalscoring opportunities for ourselves, as we showed in Munich.”
Bayern won 2-1 in the reverse fixture at the Allianz Arena thanks to a Robert Lewandowski brace.
The team news for Wolfsburg vs. Bayern
Alphonso Davies is available again following his two-match ban for his red card against Stuttgart, but Bayern will not have any other returnees at the Volkswagen Arena. “We don’t have any of the injured players back,” revealed Flick, confirming that Robert Lewandowski (individual training after knee ligament strain) and Leon Goretzka (muscular problems) won’t be fit in time. They are joined on the absentee list by Niklas Süle (muscular problems), Corentin Tolisso (torn tendon), Douglas Costa (rehab after metatarsal fracture), Marc Roca (knock) and Serge Gnabry, who is still in isolation following his positive COVID-19 test. On top of that, Lucas Hernandez still has “pain” after his knock and is a doubt.
Alphonso Davies has completed his two-match Bundesliga ban and is available.
Wolfsburg must do without Maximilian Arnold who serves a one-match ban, while injured duo Josuha Guilavogui and Renato Steffen are “out of the question” for Saturday. “Everyone else is fit,” confirmed Glasner.
Team news, tactics and more: watch Hansi Flick’s pre-match press conference in full:
What the coaches say
Hansi Flick: “It’s nice to test yourself against the best and Wolfsburg are one of the best. They have an excellent coach and a team who deserve to be right up there. They always put the opposition under pressure, they’re good from set pieces and deliver a lot of crosses. Wout Weghorst is brilliant at dominating the penalty area. They’re where they are on merit and could play in the Champions League next season.”
Oliver Glasner (VfL Wolfsburg coach): “We’re not afraid but we have great respect for Bayern Munich. We’re hugely looking forward to the game. We want to show that we can match Bayern and will do everything to win this game. […] The big test against Munich’s attacking power will be not to concede, or to concede as few goals as possible. That’s the big challenge.”
For the other important stuff on this Matchday 29 clash, read the facts and stats on the game:
Topics of this article