Bayern Munich will be looking to bounce back from last weekend's shock defeat at Hoffenheim when they continue their 2020-21 Bundesliga season at home to Hertha Berlin on Sunday.
The German champions were on the wrong end of a 4-1 scoreline at Hoffenheim last time out, while Hertha suffered a 3-1 home defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in their last league game on September 25.
Match preview
© Reuters
Bayern only beat Paris Saint-Germain in the 2020 Champions League final on August 23 but were back in action on September 18, opening their 2020-21 Bundesliga campaign with an 8-0 win over Schalke 04.
Hansi Flick's side then recorded a 2-1 victory over Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup on September 24 but could not make it three straight wins in all competitions at the start of the new season as they incredibly lost 4-1 at Hoffenheim in their second Bundesliga game last weekend.
The treble winners returned to winning ways in the German Super Cup on Wednesday night, though, recording a 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund to secure yet more silverware.
The fixture list is fairly relentless for Bayern at the moment, and there is no question that Sunday's clash is extremely important as they will not want to be potentially six points off the summit heading into the international break.
Flick's side have not lost a home Bundesliga match since last November, though, and will fancy their chances of putting another three points on the board at the Allianz Arena.
© Reuters
Hertha, meanwhile, made an excellent start to their new Bundesliga campaign, recording a 4-1 victory at Werder Bremen on September 19 to put an early three points on the board.
The Old Lady could not build on the result, though, and suffered a 3-1 home defeat to Frankfurt on September 25, with the visitors proving too strong over the course of the 90 minutes.
The two-time German champions finished 10th in the Bundesliga last season and have been active in this summer's market, notably bringing Jhon Cordoba to the club from Koln in a £13.5m deal.
Hertha suffered a 4-0 defeat when they last faced Bayern in January, but the corresponding match at the Allianz Arena last season finished in a goalless draw, which will hand Bruno Labbadia's side confidence.
Bayern Munich Bundesliga form: WL
Bayern Munich form (all competitions): WWLW
Hertha Berlin Bundesliga form: WL
Hertha Berlin form (all competitions): LWL
Team News
© FC Bayern
Bayern will again be without the services of Leroy Sane and Tanguy Kouassi through injury, while Leon Goretzka is a doubt, having missed the German Super Cup due to a back issue.
Serge Gnabry was only a substitute against Dortmund but should return to the starting XI for this match, while there is also likely to be a recall for David Alaba in the middle of the defence.
Corentin Tolisso could keep his spot in the middle of the park, while Thomas Muller, Kingsley Coman and Gnabry are expected to support lone forward Robert Lewandowski.
As for Hertha, Javairo Dilrosun and Arne Maier are both on the sidelines through injury, but Dedryck Boyata should shake off an Achilles injury to start this weekend in central defence.
Jordan Torunarigha and Santiago Ascacibar should also both be available after overcoming foot injuries, while there could be a change in attack with Cordoba in line to replace Krzysztof Piatek.
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Pavard, Sule, Alaba, Davies; Kimmich, Tolisso; Coman, Muller, Gnabry; Lewandowski
Hertha Berlin possible starting lineup:
Schwolow; Pekarik, Torunarigha, Boyata, Mittelstadt; Stark; Cunha, Tousart, Darida; Lukebakio, Cordoba
We say: Bayern Munich 3-0 Hertha Berlin
Bayern will be determined to return to winning ways in the Bundesliga, and we are struggling to see anything other than a home victory in this game. Hertha are certainly capable of making it a difficult 90 minutes, but Flick's team should ultimately have too much quality in the final third of the field.
