Bayern Munich will host FC St. Pauli at the Allianz Arena on Saturday afternoon, and they will look to continue their Bundesliga title charge.
Prior to the international break, Bayern Munich failed to win the last two league matches, and they will be desperate to bounce back strongly in the game vs FC St. Pauli at the Allianz Arena on Saturday.
Bayern Munich are the overwhelming favourites to win the Bundesliga title this season, and it will be interesting to see if they can increase their lead at the top of the table. The Bavarian giants have a formidable record at home, and the visitors will need a major slice of luck to get something out of this contest.
St. Pauli are major underdogs heading into this contest, and they are coming into this game on the back of four defeats from the last six league matches. The visitors have picked up just one win against Bayern Munich in the last six meetings between the two teams. It will be interesting to see if they can pull off an upset here. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Bayern Munich
The home side will be without Manuel Neuer (muscle tear), Alphonso Davies (ACL damage) and Dayot Upamecano (knee) due to their respective injuries. Bayern Munich will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs FC St. Pauli, with Jonas Urbig in goal.
Sacha Boey and Raphael Giuerreiro will start as the full-backs, and they will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Eric Dier will form the central defensive partnership alongside Kim Min-jae.
As for the midfield unit, Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka will add physicality and defensive cover to the side from the deep. Thomas Muller will reprise the attacking midfield role, and he will look to create opportunities for his teammates here.
Leroy Sane and Michael Olise will add pace and flair from the wide areas, with Harry Kane leading the line for Bayern Munich vs FC St. Pauli at the Allianz Arena on Saturday afternoon.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Urbig; Boey, Dier, Kim, Guerreiro; Kimmich, Goretzka; Olise, Muller, Sane; Kane
FC St. Pauli
The visitors will be without Soren Ahlers (knee), Simon Zoller (muscle), and Sascha Burchert (knee) due to injuries. Siebe Van der Heyden is struggling with a knee problem, and he remains doubtful. James Sands is ruled out after injuring ankle ligaments. Karol Mets has a patella injury.
FC St. Pauli will shape up in a 3-4-3 formation vs Bayern Munich, with Nikola Vasilj in goal. In the back three, Hauke Wahl will start alongside Lars Ritzka and David Nemeth. They will look to nullify the Bayern Munich attacking threat from the deep.
Philipp Treu and Manolis Saliakas will start in the wide areas, and they will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Eric Smith and Jackson Irvine will add control and defensive cover from the central midfield.
In the front three, Elias Saad and Johannes Eggestein will start on the flanks. They will add pace, flair and goals to the side. Noah Weisshaupt will lead the line for St. Pauli vs Bayern Munich on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Vasilj; Wahl, Ritzka, Nemeth; Treu, Smith, Irvine, Saliakas; Saad, Weisshaupt, Eggestein
Key Stats
- Bayern Munich are undefeated in 24 of their last 26 matches in the Bundesliga.
- Bayern Munich have been winning in five of their last seven matches vs St. Pauli in all competitions.
- 22 goals have been scored in the last six matches between these two sides.
- St. Pauli are without a win in five of their last six matches in the Bundesliga.
Player to Watch
Harry Kane
The England captain is an exceptional form right now, and he will look to continue in his rich vein of form. He will look to score goals and create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates. St. Pauli have been quite vulnerable defensively, and they will struggle to contain Kane, especially with the support from his teammates. Kane will look to increase his goal tally for the season and help his side grind out the all-important three points.
Prediction
Bayern Munich 3-0 FC St. Pauli
Bayern Munich are the favourites heading into this contest vs FC St. Pauli, and they have enough quality to grind out a comfortable victory at home. This should be a routine win for the home side, and they will be able to extend their lead at the top of the table.
The visitors have been quite vulnerable defensively, and their defensive unit is likely to let them down here. They are likely to crash to yet another defeat away from home. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-0 win for Vincent Kompany and his charges.
