Bayern Munich will hope to pile the pressure on Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen when they host Hoffenheim at the Allianz Arena in their first competitive game of 2024 on Friday night.
The winter break in Germany is over, and Bayern Munich return to Bundesliga action as they face TSG Hoffenheim in what will be a mourning Allianz Arena on Friday night.
Die Roten have had a sorrowful start to the year after learning of the death of the legendary Franz Beckenbauer on Monday. Der Kaiser, who was regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, spent 13 years of his career in Munich, winning 13 major trophies along the way.
As a result, there will undoubtedly be an emotional atmosphere on Friday as Bayern look to cut the gap on Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen to a single point. The Bavarians ended 2023 with a fairly comfortable 2-1 win over Wolfsburg and have their eyes set on a 12th consecutive Bundesliga title despite Leverkusen’s near-perfect season.
Bayern ended the year in second place in the league standings, with 38 points, four points behind the leaders, Bayer Leverkusen. But Thomas Tuchel’s men are snapping at their heels with a game in hand.
Hoffenheim, meanwhile, have European aspirations of their own. Pellegrino Matarazzo’s side enjoyed a promising first half of the campaign and currently occupy seventh with 24 points, just three adrift of fifth-placed Borussia Dortmund. A strong second half could see Hoffenheim compete in Europe next season.
In the reverse fixture between these two sides, Bayern Munich secured a 2-0 win at Sinsheim, with Jamal Musiala and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting getting on the scoresheet.
Team News & Tactics
Bayern Munich
Bayern’s injury woes are certainly alleviating, and they will have Konrad Laimer fit to start this encounter. However, they have lost both starting Noussair Mazraoui and Kim Min-jae to the Africa Cup of Nations and AFC Asian Cup, respectively, while Serge Gnabry, Bouna Sarr, Gabriel Marusic, Daniel Peretz, and Tarek Buchmann are all sidelined.
A 4-2-3-1 formation appears to be the flavour of the day, with Manuel Neuer starting in goal. He is likely to be protected by the back four of Konrad Laimer, Dayot Upamecano, Matthijs de Ligt, and Alphonso Davies. Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka’s running power in midfield will be key against a Hoffenheim side that excels in transition.
It is hardly surprising that all of Bayern’s attackers are flying, with Harry Kane spearheading the attack. England’s all-time record goalscorer leads not only the Bundesliga goalscoring charts but also the European Golden Shoe standings. In all competitions, Kane has scored 25 goals and provided eight assists.
The silky Jamal Musiala will function as an attacking midfielder, while Kingsley Coman and Leroy Sane will provide the width on their respective flanks.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, de Ligt, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Sane, Musiala, Coman; Kane
TSG Hoffenheim
Diadie Samassekou has left to join the Mali squad for the AFCON. So, Hoffenheim will be without him for the next several weeks. But fellow midfielder Dennis Geiger has returned to training after recovering from a groin issue.
Bambase Conte (groin) remains in the packed treatment room, though, while Marco John (ACL) and Mergim Berisha (ACL) are not expected to feature again this season, while there is speculation around a move away for Kevin Vogt, who is attracting strong interest from Union Berlin.
If nothing materialises overnight, Vogt should start in this one and form a familiar back three with John Brooks and Ozan Kabak, while Wout Weghorst could also mark his return from a muscular problem here, having now resumed full training. Croatian marksman Andrej Kramaric, who has eight goals to his name this term, could be supported in attack by Ihlas Bebou.
Probable Lineup (3-1-4-2): Baumann; Szalai, Brooks, Kabak; Stach; Kaderabek, Promel, Grillitsch, Skov; Bebou, Kramaric
Key Stats
- Bayern Munich have won eight of their last nine league fixtures.
- The reigning Bundesliga champions are unbeaten in all of their past five games against Hoffenheim.
- Hoffenheim have scored in all 16 Bundesliga matches this season.
- The Bavarians are undefeated at home this season.
- Bayern Munich’s league fixtures have averaged 3.82 goals per game this season.
Player to Watch
Harry Kane
Halfway through the campaign, if the Ballon d’Or votes were cast, Harry Kane would be the clear winner. With 21 goals in only 15 league appearances, the England captain is on track to break Robert Lewandowski’s record of 41 goals in a single Bundesliga season.
The former Tottenham Hotspur striker has been more than just a goalscorer and has been superb in link-up play by coming deep to bring others into the attack or by releasing the wingers for clear goalscoring opportunities. There is no doubt about his work rate, either. He is proving to be a real talismanic figure for Bayern Munich.
Prediction
Bayern Munich 3-1 TSG Hoffenheim
Fast-paced, direct, and transitional, Hoffenheim are the typical Bundesliga side, and their approach should make for an interesting match on Friday night. They are capable of overwhelming Bayern Munich’s high defensive line. But the visitors have not been at their ruthless best in front of goal lately.
As long as Bayern keep their heads, it should prove to be a comfortable night out for the defending champions. The Hard Tackle predicts Thomas Tuchel and his charges to clinch a hard-fought 3-1 win over Hoffenheim.