Bayern are in the capital on Sunday to take on Hertha Berlin (kick-off 17:30 CET, coverage on fcbayern.com with our live text commentary and free web radio) before the Bundesliga takes a two-week break. Julian Nagelsmann and his team want to cement their position at the top on Matchday 20. Here’s everything you need to know in our preview:
Check out the best photos of Bayern’s final training before heading to Berlin:
Situation for Bayern
A 4-0 victory at in-form Köln last weekend showed in impressive style that Bayern have quickly put their 2-1 defeat to Borussia Mönchengladbach in the first game of 2022 behind them. The win in Cologne ensured the advantage over Borussia Dortmund in second remained at six points. “I’m essentially pleased. We’re progressing well but still have more room for improvement,” Nagelsmann said at his press conference on Friday. BVB’s 3-2 win at Hoffenheim on Saturday means the gap is now down to three again, so Bayern again have to react to restore their cushion. “In the end you always have to deliver. Dortmund are having a very good season, so we need to stick at it.”
Bayern ran out comfortable 5-0 winners in the reverse fixture against Hertha after a Robert Lewandowski hat-trick and further goals from Thomas Müller and Jamal Musiala.
Opponents Hertha
Hertha have had an up-and-down season so far. The capital club have 22 points from 19 games to leave them in 13th place. Tayfun Korkut and his side were also knocked out of the DFB Cup during the week after a 3-2 defeat to city rivals Union. However, the Old Lady earned 11 points from their final five home games of 2021, including a 3-2 win over Dortmund. That being said, they were beaten 3-1 by Köln in their last league fixture at the Olympiastadion. Last matchday saw them play out a goalless draw at Wolfsburg. “They’re playing more football on the whole than previously, more flat football, not playing as many immediate long balls. Hertha have a brave footballing approach,” Nagelsmann said of Sunday’s opponents.
Re-watch Nagelsmann’s pre-Hertha press conference:
Player update
While Bouna Sarr (Senegal) and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Cameroon) are still away representing their countries at the Africa Cup of Nations, Bayern also make the trip to Berlin without Josip Stanisic (recovery training after a muscle strain), Leon Goretzka (recovery training after knee issues) and Alphonso Davies (training break due to signs of myocarditis). However, Kingsley Coman and Lucas Hernandez are both available again. Manuel Neuer and Corentin Tolisso didn’t train fully during the week in order to manage workloads, as Nagelsmann explained in his press conference.
Hertha are without back-up goalkeeper Rune Jarstein, while there are also question marks over centre-backs Jordan Torunarigha and Niklas Stark. Striker Stevan Jovetic has trained with the team again and could make a return.
What the coaches say
Julian Nagelsmann: “It will be important how we defend. We have to be awake. We have to adapt to Hertha’s good but fair hard play, and then play our game. I’m then confident we should pick up three points on Sunday.”
Tayfun Korkut (Hertha coach): “It’s about performing to our limit. We’re not going into this game to surrender but will look for our chances. We have to be incredibly awake and alert in defence, be resolute in every challenge and show creativity in attack. It goes without saying we’re facing a top team and a big challenge. We have to believe in our own game.“
Check out the best facts and figures ahead of the game at Hertha:
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