Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich will resume their league campaign with a home fixture against SC Freiburg on Saturday.
Having dropped points prior to the break, Bayern Munich will be eager to return to winning ways at the Allianz Arena when they host SC Freiburg, who will be looking to build on their win last time out.
The home team are top of the table with 28 points in their ten outings, thanks to nine wins and a draw. The German giants are the most in-form team in all of Europe. They have won 16 out of their 17 outings across competitions.
Bayern Munich’s only draw so far came against Union Berlin away from home prior to the international break. While they dominated the proceedings, they were on the verge of defeat by a 90th-minute strike from Harry Kane saved the day for them.
While the home team will look to return to winning ways, the visitors will look to build on the win they secured over St. Pauli prior to the break. Freiburg are tenth on the table with 13 points in their 10 outings, with three wins, four draws and three defeats. After a run of four league games without a win, they finally got things back on track in their last outing.
Freiburg will not be looking to build on that when they resume their league campaign. But going up against Bayern Munich certainly won’t be easy; they will have to be at their absolute best to stand a chance. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
Bayern Munich
Hiroki Ito is back in training, while Jama Musiala’s rehab is also going as per plan. Apart from the duo, Alphonso Davies is also unavailable for the home side.
The home team will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where Manuel Neuer will be in goal. Konrad Laimer and Tom Bischof will be the full-backs, while Dayot Upamecano will pair up with Jonathan Tah in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka will form the double pivot in the centre of the park. They will look to shield the backline and control the tempo of the game.
Michael Olise and Luis Diaz will feature on the flanks, providing much-needed width to their attacks. Harry Kane could once again be deployed in a number ten role, with Nicolas Jackson spearheading the attack.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Bischof; Kimmich, Goretzka; Olise, Kane, Diaz; Jackson
SC Freiburg
The visitors do not have any fresh injury concerns. Daniel-Kofi Kyereh, who has been nursing a knee injury for some time, is the only one unavailable for selection here.
Freiburg will also line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Noah Atubolu taking charge in goal. Philipp Treu and Jordy Makengo will feature as the full-backs, while Matthias Ginter will partner with Philipp Lienhart in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Maximilian Eggestein and Johan Manzambi will form the double pivot in the middle of the pitch. The duo will certainly have a lot of defending to do against a star-studded Bayern team.
Jan-Niklas Beste and Vincenzo Grifo should feature on the flanks for the visitors. The duo will look to support the full-backs and hit Bayern Munich on the break whenever possible. Yuito Suzuki will feature in the number ten role behind Junior Adamu, who will lead the line for SC Freiburg against Bayern Munich on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Atubolu; Treu, Ginter, Lienhart, Makengo; Eggestein, Manzambi; Beste, Suzuki, Grifo; Adamu
Key Stats
- Vincent Kompany’s team have won 16 out of their 17 matches across competitions.
- After a run of nine straight wins in the league, Bayern Munich played out a draw against Union Berlin last time out.
- Bayern Munich have won seven out of their last eight league outings against Freiburg.
- While the visitors have not been at their best, they have only lost one out of their last 13 games across competitions.
- Freiburg have been winless against Bayern Munich since their 2-1 win in the cup back in 2023.
Player to Watch
Luis Diaz
Diaz has enjoyed a sensational start to life at Bayern Munich. The 28-year-old Colombian international has not taken any time to adjust to his new surroundings. He has certainly hit the ground running, having contributed towards 16 goals (11 goals, 5 assists) in his 17 outings across competitions.
Prediction
Bayern Munich 3-0 SC Freiburg
Bayern Munich are overwhelming favourites to resume their Bundesliga campaign with a convincing win at home. Despite being held to a draw by Union Berlin before the break, Vincent Kompany’s side remains the most dominant force in Europe this season, and their firepower should be far too much for Freiburg to handle.
Freiburg may take confidence from their win over St. Pauli, but this challenge is of an entirely different level. While they have shown resilience throughout the campaign, their defensive structure has looked shaky against high-tempo attacks, and Bayern Munich will test them relentlessly. The Hard Tackle predicts an easy 3-0 win for the home team.
