Can Hoffenheim end Bayern Munich’s unbeaten start?
Saturday sees Bayern Munich return to the Allianz Arena after a week on the road, as they look to maintain their unbeaten start to the 2016/17 Bundesliga campaign. Despite producing results against fourth and fifth placed FC Koln and Hertha Berlin already this season, Carlo Ancelotti’s side face their toughest test yet against an in-form Hoffenheim side that have exceeded expectations so far this season.
Following a 15th placed finish last season, Julian Nagelsmann’s side were tipped for another season of mediocrity. Although, nine straight matches without a defeat have propelled them into third place in the Bundesliga table. Yet, that impressive run may be about to come to an end, with an away trip to Bayern Munich undoubtedly the hardest game in any Bundesliga’s side’s calendar.
Bayern took the top spot on the opening day of the season with a 6-0 win over Werder Bremen and have held it ever since. Although, while the likes of usual title-chasers Borussia Dortmund and Wolfsburg have failed to keep up during the early stages, Ancelotti’s side have new competition in newly promoted side RB Leipzig.
The impressive newbies, who have climbed up from the fifth tier in just seven seasons, sit just two points behind Bayern Munich in second. Should the current champions fall to defeat on Saturday, it would allow RB Leipzig to leap above them into first place.
Hoffenheim will hope to keep their good run going. They leapfrogged Hertha Berlin with a 1-0 victory last time out, which took their run to five consecutive victories, making it hard to believe that just over a month ago Nagelsmann’s side were still struggling to kickstart their season, having drawn their first four Bundesliga matches. However, they have now scored in their last six matches - with strike duo Sandro Wagner and Andrej Kramaric finding their rhythm in recent weeks, Hoffenheim will be confident of finding the net on Saturday.
Although, one goal is unlikely to be enough. Bayern Munich have been prolific in front of goal so far this season, notching up 23 goals in just nine matches. Coming up against the best attacking unit in the division will be tough for Hoffenheim, but with two consecutive clean sheets in the bag, they will be quietly confident that they still have some chance of keeping the German champions at bay.
Bayern will be buoyed by the resurgence of Robert Lewandowski last weekend. The talismanic goalscorer started the season with five goals and one assist in three matches, before then going five consecutive matches without finding the net. How form was concerning, but two goals and an assist against FC Augsburg suggests that his poor run is now behind him.
It’s rare to see two undefeated sides match up at this stage of the season. While we have come to expect Bayern’s performances to be nothing short of brilliant, Hoffenheim have done remarkably well to make it this far without suffering defeat. Unfortunately for them, given the calibre of their opponents, that looks set to change this weekend.
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