Bayern Munich will aim to continue the recent winning run when they welcome TSG Hoffenheim to the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.
A rare Bundesliga midweek round of fixtures will culminate on Wednesday, with the curtains falling on Matchday 17. The action on the day will start and end with four simultaneous games, including Bayern Munich vs TSG Hoffenheim at the Allianz Arena.
Bayern Munich might not have blown the competition away in the first half of the 2024/25 season. However, the Bavarian giants have bounced back well from the setback of the 2023/24 campaign, which ended without a trophy. Vincent Kompany has room for improvement, but his charges have opened up a four-point gap atop the Bundesliga standings, with the latest win coming over Borussia Monchengladbach.
As for TSG Hoffenheim, a relegation battle might be on the cards in the second half of the 2024/25 season. Christian Ilzer took over from Pellegrino Matarazzo in November, but the results have not improved. The Kraichgauers have won only one game in six outings to remain 15th on the table in the last two months.
The corresponding fixture last season saw Bayern Munich cruise to a 3-0 win, with Jamal Musiala scoring a match-winning brace and Harry Kane also finding the back of the net. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Bayern Munich
Vincent Kompany does not have any new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Bayern Munich manager might be bereft of the services of as many as six first-team players vs VfB Stuttgart on Wednesday.
Daniel Peretz (kidney), Sacha Boey (ankle), Hiroki Ito (foot), Josip Stanisic (hamstring), and Joao Palhinha (groin) remain on the sidelines. Meanwhile, Kompany is sweating over the fitness of Jamal Musiala, who might miss out due to his bout with illness.
Manuel Neuer is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Bayern Munich lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs TSG Hoffenheim on Wednesday. The backline should feature Konrad Laimer, Dayot Upamecano, Kim Min-jae, and Alphonso Davies.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka, with Thomas Muller reprising the no. 10 role. Finally, Harry Kane will lead the line for Bayern Munich against TSG Hoffenheim, with Leroy Sane and Michael Olise being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, Kim, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Olise, Muller, Sane; Kane
TSG Hoffenheim
Like his counterpart in the Bayern Munich dugout, Christian Ilzer does not have any new issues to worry about ahead of the trip to the Allianz Stadium. The TSG Hoffenheim manager might be without as many as six first-team players on Wednesday.
Ozan Kabak (knee), Christopher Lenz (calf), Grischa Promel (knee), Umut Tohumcu (ankle), and Ihlas Bebou (knee) remain on the sidelines. Marius Bulter is closing in on returning from a thigh injury, but Wednesday’s game has come too soon for him to feature in the matchday squad.
Oliver Baumann will take his spot between the sticks, with TSG Hoffenheim lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Bayern Munich on Wednesday. The backline will feature Valentin Gendrey, Arthur Chaves, Stanley Nsoki, and Alexander Prass.
As for the midfield unit, Anton Stach and Diadie Samassekou should pair up in the double pivot. The duo will aim to keep things tight in the middle of the park, with Adam Hlozek taking up the more advanced position. Finally, Tom Bischof and Andrej Kramaric will be the two wide attackers, with Gift Orban spearheading the TSG Hoffenheim attack against Bayern Munich this midweek.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Baumann; Gendrey, Chaves, Nsoki, Prass; Stach, Samassekou; Bischof, Hlozek, Kramaric; Orban
Key Stats
- Bayern Munich have won 22 of their last 34 games vs TSG Hoffenheim, with the Kraichgauers managing only five victories (D7).
- Bayern Munich are unbeaten in their five most recent home games vs Hoffenheim, picking up four wins and one draw since a 2-1 defeat in October 2019.
- TSG Hoffenheim are one of only three teams yet to taste victory away from home in Bundesliga this season (D4 L3).
- Bayern Munich have won all but one of their seven Bundesliga home games this term, with a 1-1 draw against Bayer Leverkusen on September 28 the exception.
- Bayern Munich were the Autumn champions for the 27th time this season. They have become the Bundesliga winners on 23 of the previous 26 occasions.
Player to Watch
Harry Kane
Michael Olise and Andrej Kramaric were viable candidates for this section, but we have picked Harry Kane as our Player to Watch for Wednesday’s game. The veteran striker has shown no signs of age catching up to him and continues to go from strength to strength at Bayern Munich.
While the England captain scored from the spot to earn Bayern Munich a 1-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach, he has been exceptional from open play, and he boasts an excellent record of 21 goals and nine assists in 21 appearances across all competitions. So, Kane will be the go-to man for Vincent Kompany against TSG Hoffenheim on Wednesday.
Prediction
Bayern Munich 3-0 TSG Hoffenheim
Things continue to go from bad to worse for TSG Hoffenheim, and they do not have the quality, form, or momentum to get a positive result vs Bayern Munich this midweek. The visitors are on a five-match winless run, while the Bavarian giants have a formidable record at home.
So, anything other than a straightforward Bayern Munich win will be shocking. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-0 win for Vincent Kompany and his charges, and the result will help Bayern Munich end the first half of the 2024/25 season atop the Bundesliga standings.