The 2019/20 league season kicks off later tonight with defending champions Bayern Munich taking on Hertha. The Berlin outfit have tended to be tough opposition for Bayern in recent years- the Bavarian giants have won only one of the last five league games between the two sides.
Here are the predicted lineups for this clash from German paper Bild- it again seems to feature Thomas Muller on the wing.
Bayern will be looking to send out a strong statement following their Super Cup loss to Dortmund.
Borussia Dortmund prevented Bayern Munich from claiming their fourth consecutive Super Cup as they beat Niko Kovac’s side 2:0 at Signal Iduna Park.
Mats Hummels was a late withdrawal for BVB, forcing Favre to play Toprak in central defence alongside Akanji. Julian Weigl was chosen to partner Axel Witsel in midfield.
Bayern’s XI was pretty much on the lines of what Kicker had predicted for them– the only difference being Corentin Tolisso starting in midfield ahead of Renato Sanches.
Marco Reus, who was given the German Footballer of the Year trophy just before the game began, almost put BVB ahead in the first minute, but was denied by an excellent Neuer save.
At the other end, Kingsley Coman forced a double save from Dortmund reserve keeper Hitz, but the game remained goalless at half time. However Dortmund came running out of the blocks after the interval, and Jadon Sancho created one and scored another as Bayern went 2-0 down.
Thiago carelessly giving away the ball started Bayern’s downfall, and the Brazilian was given a 6 (lowest possible score) in Bild’s ratings.
Continue reading BVB 2:0 Bayern in Supercup 2019 & Bild’s brutal player rating for Thiago Alcantara
The German Super Cup this year has lost a little bit of sting owing to the mounting injury lists at both the Allianz Arena and the Westfalenstadion, but it nevertheless represents a chance for both teams, especially Dortmund, to lay down a marker ahead of the new season.
BVB have Julian Brandt, Thorgan Hazard, Roman Burki and Mateu Morey unavailable while Lucas Hernandez and Serge Gnabry are both on the sidelines for Bayern.
Here are the predicted lineups for the game, courtesy well known German magazine Kicker.
Bayern are the reigning Super Cup holders, having beaten Eintracht Frankfurt 5:0 in last year’s game, with Robert Lewandowski scoring a hat trick
Bayern had won their last 17 away games at promoted sides, but were held to a 1:1 draw by struggling Nuremberg on Sunday afternoon. The Bavarians knew fully well that they could go 4 points clear of BVB (who had lost to Schalke on Saturday), but more questions will be asked about Niko Kovac after they just about managed a point. Gnabry, who came off the bench to score an equaliser, saved Kovac’s blushes and is the highest rated Bayern player according to these ratings.
Hoffenheim book their spot in the 2017/18 Champions League as they beat Eintracht Frankfurt 1:0 in their BuLi clash on 30 April, 2017. Benjamin Hubner’s 90th minute goal v Eintracht sealed the deal for TSG 1899, with 30.150 in attendance at the Rhein Necka Arena for this clash.
Great achievement for TSG 1899 and their 29 year old manager and if things stand the way they currently are, the club will get an automatic spot in the group stages of the Champions League next season along with Bayern and Leipzig, forcing Dortmund to play the qualifiers. Continue reading Benjamin Hubner’s goal sees Hoffenheim qualify for Champions League | Video Hoffenheim-Eintracht Frankfurt 2017 Highlights