Bundesliga leaders Bayern welcome revitalised Hoffenheim to the Allianz Arena on Saturday. Kick-off is at 15:30 CEST, with coverage on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app with our live text and free web radio. Here’s all you need to know on the game in our preview.
State of play for Bayern
The facts are quite clear for Bayern ahead this Matchday 28 fixture. The champions’ lead at the top of the table is currently only two points ahead of Borussia Dortmund. It means FCB need “a good result in the title race”, according to Thomas Tuchel. The head coach will be looking to employ a simple but promising approach: “We want to score as many goals as possible and not concede any. That’s how we train and prepare. We want to get the players into the situation,” the 49-year-old said at his press conference on Friday. What makes matters more difficult for the 49-year-old, however, is that he and his team haven’t had an easy week. There’s been little time to put the 3-0 defeat away at Manchester City behind them ahead of an important game at home in the Bundesliga. “I can sense we’re itching for revenge and the second leg,” Tuchel said while also warning “not to lose focus”. That’s because “there’s no more important game than the next one, even at Bayern.”
Hear more from Thomas Tuchel at his press conference on Friday:
Opponent: Hoffenheim
Opponents Hoffenheim have proven recently how you can get yourself out of a slump. A last-minute 2-1 defeat at Freiburg sent them bottom of the table just a month ago. But the Sinsheim club have since reacted and now won three straight games against Hertha Berlin (3-1), Werder Bremen (2-1) and Schalke (2-0). It’s seen TSG back up to 14th in the standings. It’s still not where Pellegrino Matarazzo and his side will want to be, but they’ve quickly put a five-point gap between themselves and the relegation play-off spot. That form makes them confident ahead of taking on the league leaders. “There are obviously easier tasks,” stated centre-back John Brooks on the club’s website. He continued: “But we’re going there to get something. That’s our clear goal. We don’t go into any game having already written it off.”
Read up on the facts ahead of the game:
Player update
Lucas Hernandez and Manuel Neuer are still some way off returning to the fold. Sadio Mane will also not be involved due to misconduct. As Tuchel confirmed at his press conference, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is again absent with a persistent knee issue. “Apart from that, everyone’s available,“ the coach stated. That includes Dayot Upamecano after he served a one-game domestic ban.
Hoffenheim are still without striker Munas Dabbur through suspension. Jacob Bruun Larsen (groin) and Kevin Vogt (knee) also miss out.
What the coaches say
There’s no more important game than the next one, even at Bayern. I expect from myself and all of the backroom staff that we’ll prepare the team to be 100 percent top. We also expect that from the team. It’s the foundation for getting a result. We need a good result in the title race.
Thomas Tuchel
Bayern are one of the best teams in the world. They’re a bit more controlled in defence under Thomas Tuchel and more dangerous after turnovers. When your opponent is so good on the ball, the first thing for us is to defend as a team and look to create some periods of relief.
Pellegrino Matarazzo (Hoffenheim head coach)
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