FC Bayern round off the year by hosting RB Leipzig at the Allianz Arena on Friday evening (live coverage with our text commentary and free web radio on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app from 20.30 CET). Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our preview.
Check out the photos from the final training session on Thursday:
The situation for FC Bayern
Last week, FC Bayern became the last team to suffer a defeat in the current Bundesliga campaign when they lost 2-1 at 1. FSV Mainz 05. However, head coach Vincent Kompany was certain after the final whistle that this setback would "spark a fire" in his team and that the players would come up with the right reaction against Leipzig at the end of the season. With a view towards the preparations for the home game, the Belgian certainly appeared to have had an inkling: “In Friday’s training, if things go the way they did yesterday, we'll be in a good position," explained the Belgian in his pre-match press conference on Thursday, smiling confidently: "Of course, you're more motivated when you lose."
In terms of their position in the table, however, the Bavarians were able to cope with dropping points against Mainz. With one matchday to go before the start of the winter break, FCB still have a four-point lead over the second-placed team, defending champions Bayer 04 Leverkusen. This also prompted Max Eberl to summarise the situation positively: "The fact is that we are definitely heading into the winter break in first place, which is a good position to be in," said the board member for sport: "We've had three defeats so far and have always shown a very good reaction, and we want to do the same now. We want to win every game, and that includes the match against Leipzig. That really would be a very good way to end the year."
Read the key statements from the press conference with Vincent Kompany here:
The opposition: RB Leipzig
The fact that November is over and Christmas is just around the corner probably pleased no one as much as the Leipzig management. The club from Saxony played six competitive matches last month - none of which they won and five of which they lost, meaning RB Leipzig set a negative record in the club's short history. However, Marco Rose's team have since recovered, at least domestically, and have won three out of four matches across all competitions since the beginning of December. Only in Europe's premier club competition have things continued to go wrong and Leipzig suffered their sixth defeat in their sixth Champions League game of the campaign in the last midweek game of the year, going down 3-2 to Aston Villa.
After Bayern and RB were level on points at the top of the table after Matchday 8, the gap between the fourth-placed team has grown to six points as a result of the Saxons' drought. However, Rose and his team are now aiming to make up ground with their recently regained confidence: "We're a long way off at the moment, to be honest," said the RB coach: "The performance will have to be very good to get something out of the game in Munich. But we're heading there with a good feeling. I'm looking forward to the game."
The facts on the game against Leipzig:
Team news for FC Bayern vs. RB Leipzig
Alphonso Davies and Harry Kane have recovered from their injuries (ruptured muscle fibres) and are back in the frame for the clash with Leipzig. The same applies to Serge Gnabry, who was only able to do some light training after suffering knee problems, according to Kompany. For Josip Stanišić, who was able to return to the pitch with the squad during the week following a ruptured ligament in his right knee, however, it's still too early to be involved. Manuel Neuer (fractured rib), Kingsley Coman (torn muscle fibre), João Palhinha (torn muscle bundle) and Hiroki Ito (fractured metatarsal) are also still sidelined, as is Sacha Boey, who suffered a ligament injury in his left ankle on Tuesday.
Marco Rose is also hoping for a number of players to return for the game in Munich: Amadou Haidara is an option again, while a decision on whether David Raum (foot ligament injury) and the recently injured Kevin Kampl (muscular problems) will be made after the final training session, according to the RB coach. Xavi Simons (ankle ligament), Castello Jr, Yussuf Poulsen and Eljif Elmas (all thigh muscle) will not be involved.
In the last home game of the year, Bayern are aiming to say goodbye to the fans with a win - as they've always managed to do in recent years:
What the coaches say
„Leipzig's individual and collective quality is among the best in the Bundesliga. The intensity is always very high against teams like that, and I expect the same on Friday.”
Vincent Kompany
„We're going to try everything we can to make life as difficult as possible for Bayern. We'll have to run like hares, be industrious and make the most of our chances.”
Marco Rose (RB Leipzig coach)
The DFL has scheduled the matches up to the start of March:
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