Preview: Bayern Munich vs. Hertha Berlin - prediction, team news, lineups

The reigning champions take on the side currently bottom of the table as Bayern Munich welcome Hertha Berlin to the Allianz Arena on Saturday.

Hertha have one of the toughest early-season schedules and things will not get any easier for them in the third round of Bundesliga fixtures.

Match preview

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Bayern started the season fairly slowly with a draw away at Borussia Monchengladbach, but the Bavarian giants now appear to be getting into their stride as their new manager finds his feet.

Having won everything there was to be won during his short-lived spell as manager, Hansi Flick decided to swap league action for the national team and was succeeded in the Bayern dugout by Julian Nagelsmann - the 34-year-old's impressive work at RB Leipzig convincing the Bayern owners to pay a world record fee for a manager.

His first Bundesliga win came last weekend, but it was far from an easy stroll to three points, with underdogs FC Koln putting up a real fight.

They held out at 0-0 for the first 45 minutes, before Robert Lewandowski predictably opened the scoring early in the second half and Serge Gnabry then made it two. The underdogs fought back, though, with two goals in three minutes pulling them back level, before Gnabry added a second to seal the victory.

In scoring for the 74th competitive match in a row, Bayern broke Real Madrid's record and went on to complement that milestone with their biggest victory in almost a quarter of a century during the week, thanks to their 12-0 mauling of Bremer SV in the DFB-Pokal.

Nagelsmann will hope to build on this momentum and nail down their traditional spot at the top of the league soon. If results fall kindly for him, that could happen this weekend.

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At this moment, Hertha would kill for the four points that many would consider a mediocre start for their upcoming opponents.

They would have hoped to have begun the new campaign more positively than they finished the last - a disappointing season culminating in a 14th-placed finish - after having invested heavily in recent years, but that has not happened.

An underwhelming 3-1 loss away at FC Koln on the opening day was followed up by another defeat last weekend at home to Wolfsburg.

Pal Dardai's side started the brighter and eventually took the lead on the hour mark when Dodi Lukebakio won and converted a penalty, but Hertha were unable to see out the match. Wolfsburg equalised through a swift counter-attack and then punished the hosts for not converting a series of late chances with a heartbreaking 88th-minute winner.

Dardai finished last season strongly after having been appointed in January, but will need to find some points soon before pressure begins to mount, and doing so this weekend will be a tall order.

Team News

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Bayern remain without the French trio of Kingsley Coman, Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez, with hamstring, ankle and knee issues respectively.

Midfielder Marc Roca also has an ankle injury and this weekend's game will likely come too soon for his return.

Captain Manuel Neuer is fit again to lead the team out, though, in what will surely be the favoured 4-2-3-1 system led by Lewandowski, with young Jamal Musiala keeping his spot ahead of the misfiring Leroy Sane.

Hertha have quite a long injury list, including Krzysztof Piatek and Ishak Belfodil, and Kevin-Prince Boateng joined the group in the treatment room after limping off during the game against Wolfsburg. Rumours are that the issue was minor enough that he may start this weekend, however.

His replacement during the game Stevan Jovetic has enjoyed a solid start to his Hertha career and will likely retain his place in the starting XI either way, after dropping to the bench for the last match.

Captain Dedryck Boyata was fit to return to the defensive line last game, but did so in place of the newly injured Marton Dardai, who looks set to remain out for a few weeks.

Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Stanisic, Upamecano, Sule, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Gnabry, Muller, Musiala; Lewandowski

Hertha Berlin possible starting lineup:
Schwolow; Pekarik, Boyata, Stark, Plattenhardt; Serdar, Ascacibar; Lukebakio, Boateng, Jovetic; Selke

We say: Bayern Munich 3-1 Hertha Berlin

Bayern have struggled a bit at the back so far this season but will surely have enough to comfortably see off a Hertha side low on confidence, who have conceded five in two games against lesser competition.