Hunting records against the Wolves: Bayern looking to give right response to PSG

It was an emotional and arduous effort at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night, which sadly ended in elimination from the Champions League for FC Bayern. Just three days later, it’s back to Bundesliga routine at Wolfsburg – although there’s no talk of routine for the Munich men, despite already being crowned champions. They want to bounce back from the setback, maintain their rhythm ahead of the DFB Cup final on 23 May in Berlin and once again demonstrate their high level, even against a VfL Wolfsburg side who are fighting for survival.

Kick-off at the Volkswagen Arena is at 18:30 CEST on Saturday evening (follow the match with our live text and free Web Radio commentary on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app). We bring you the lowdown on the game in our preview.

The best photos from Friday’s final training session:

Latest news from Bayern

After the spectacular 3-3 draw against Heidenheim, when Michael Olise’s equaliser in the tenth minute of added time prevented a historic home defeat against the the bottom side, the Reds are now aiming to complete the Bundesliga season without an away defeat. It would be only the third time FCB have gone a whole season without losing on the road after 1986/87 and 2012/13 – no other club have done it more.

In fact, the record champions are unbeaten in 25 away league games stretching back to last season (W19, D6). The attack is also hitting new heights: 116 goals in the league this season, a new Bundesliga record and only twice surpassed anywhere in this millennium – both times by Real Madrid. Olise’s latest goal added to the record chase too: 33 goal involvements for him this season (14 goals and 19 assists) and 19 goals scored by substitutes for Bayern – both Bundesliga bests.

The facts on the game at Wolfsburg:

That’s why coach Vincent Kompany is clearly focusing on what’s ahead: “It's normal that we were disappointed after the Champions League exit against Paris. But from the next day I've just been focused on what we can achieve in the future.”

Read all the key statements from the pre-match press conference here:

Opponents: Wolfsburg

Wolfsburg come into this meeting against “the gold standard of the Bundesliga”, as coach Dieter Hecking put it, on a three-match unbeaten run and with renewed hope from the 1-1 draw at Freiburg last weekend. The point lifted the Lower Saxony side into the relegation play-off spot. However, their record at home is cause for concern: just 10 points and 10 defeats on home soil are the worst stats in the league.

Much of the Wolves’ hope rests on Christian Eriksen. With eight goals and three assists, the former Ajax, Tottenham, Inter and Manchester United midfielder has been involved in the most goals together with Mohammed Amoura. “We have a score to settle after the reverse fixture. We’re going to do everything we possibly can,” promised the Dane on the club website. Bayern thrashed Wolfsburg 8-1 at the Allianz Arena at the start of the year – the record champions’ biggest win of the season.

Hecking, who returned as head coach in March, knows the size of the task: “We need a top performance in every department, every facet. Then, if FC Bayern open the door slightly, we can push it open further and maybe celebrate a good result.”

We examine the next opponents in more detail in our analysis:

Team news

Bayern are without Serge Gnabry (adductor) and Alphonso Davies (hamstring).

For Wolfsburg, Hecking has no fresh injury concerns. “Everyone’s in, no injuries – except the long-term ones,” confirmed the 61-year-old.

Test your knowledge on the Bundesliga clash in the Matchday Quiz: 

What the coaches say