After dropping points in their last league match, reigning champions Bayern Munich will expect to return to winning ways against Freiburg on Sunday.
The visitors, meanwhile, secured a comfortable 2-0 win against Augsburg last weekend to move onto 10 points after six games.
Match preview
© Reuters
Bayern lost ground on league leaders Bayer Leverkusen last weekend, with their second 2-2 draw of the season coming away to RB Leipzig, having drawn against Leverkusen by the same scoreline earlier in the season.
However, the circumstances were different compared to that game, when they threw away a lead twice at the Allianz Arena. This time, they found themselves 2-0 down away to one of the strongest teams in the country within the opening 26 minutes, yet goals from Harry Kane and Leroy Sane after the break ensued that they did not return to Bavaria empty-handed.
Thomas Tuchel's side showed great spirit to come from behind once again in midweek, too, with Bayern maintaining their 100% record in the Champions League by beating Copenhagen 2-1 in Denmark. Lukas Lerager had broken the deadlock for the hosts after 55 minutes, but Jamal Musiala levelled the proceedings 12 minutes later, before substitute Mathys Tel bagged a late winner.
Bayern could find themselves five points behind Leverkusen by the time they kickoff on Sunday should Xabi Alonso's side defeat winless FC Koln as expected earlier in the day, so it is crucially important that the Bavarians remain within touching distance of their rivals ahead of the upcoming international break.
© Reuters
Despite failing to beat Bayern in the Bundesliga since a 2-1 victory at Europa-Park Stadion in May 2015, Christian Streich's were victorious at the Allianz Arena in the DFB-Pokal last season, and they will be looking to use that as a blueprint to spring another surprise on Sunday.
Breisgau-Brasilianer have punched above their weight to finish fifth and sixth in the last two seasons, qualifying for the Europa League as a result on both occasions. That said, their ultimate goals of qualifying for the Champions League and winning the club's first ever major trophy fell agonisingly short when losing to Leipzig on penalties in the DFB-Pokal in 2022, before finishing three points behind fourth-placed Union Berlin last time out.
With Leverkusen, Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund and their forthcoming opponents all looking likely to put together strong points totals this season, breaking into the top four may well prove beyond Freiburg, but their hopes of qualifying for Europe once again received a boost by winning for the first time since late August when hosting Augsburg last time out.
Vincenzo Grifo dispatched a penalty inside the opening five minutes before Philipp Lienhart doubled his side's lead after the break, but Streich and his players will be acutely aware that their performance levels must improve if they are to have any chance of avoiding defeat in Munich on Sunday, particularly after being beaten by West Ham United in the Europa League three days prior.
Team News
© Reuters
Bayern will remain without Serge Gnabry and Manuel Neuer, who are recovering from a broken arm and leg respectively, while Matthijs de Ligt, Tarek Buchmann and Gabriel Marusic are all also ruled out of Sunday's contest.
Leon Goretzka will almost certainly return to the hosts' engine room after only appearing from the bench in midweek, with Konrad Laimer likely to shift back to an unfamiliar role at right-back, meaning Noussair Mazraoui will drop down to the bench.
Freiburg, meanwhile, are likely to travel without Yannik Keitel, Benjamin Uphoff, Max Rosenfelder, Christian Gunter and Daniel-Kofi Kyereh due to injury, while Nicolas Hofler is still unavailable domestically due to suspension.
Should Keitel miss out due to a groin issue, Merlin Rohl may be asked to step up alongside Maximilian Eggestein in midfield, leaving the visitors without a natural holding midfielder for arguably their toughest match of the season.
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Ulreich; Laimer, Upamecano, Kim, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Sane, Musiala, Coman; Kane
Freiburg possible starting lineup:
Atubolu; Sildillia, Ginter, Lienhart, Kubler; Rohl, Eggestein; Sallai, Doan, Grifo; Holer
We say: Bayern Munich 3-0 Freiburg
While Freiburg still possess plenty of talent in attacking areas, their defensive and midfield areas are undoubtedly weakened by injuries and Hofler's suspension at present, meaning we do not give them much hope of shutting Bayern out.
The Bavarians have gone up a gear in attack as a result of signing England striker Kane from Tottenham Hotspur during the summer, and they should have more than enough about them to secure a comfortable win on Sunday, particularly with two days' greater rest in their favour.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Brett Curtis
