Friday, September 30, 2011

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01.10. (Sat) 15:30 1899 Hoffenheim - Bayern Munchen

Jerome Boateng, FC Bayern Munich
Getty Images


 PROBABLE LINEUPS


HOFFENHEIM

StarkeBeck, Vorsah, Compper, Braafheid
Rudy, Kaiser
Obasi, Firmino, BabelSigurdsson
BAYERN MUNICH

NeuerRafinha, Boateng, Badstuber, Lahm
Luiz Gustavo, Schweinsteiger
Robben, Muller, RiberyGomez
Holger Stanislawski will have to do without the services of defenders Matthias Jaissleand Manuel Gulde, midfielders Sejad Salihovic, Fabian Johnson and Boris Vukcevic as well as striker Vedad Ibisevic. Youngster Dominik Kaiser is set to deputise for the Bosnia-Herzegovina midfielder, while Gylfi Sigurdsson is expected to spearhead the attack.

Partners in crime Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben are set to finally reunite right from the start, meaning Toni Kroos is likely to settle for a place on the bench. Following his impressive performance agains Manchetser City, Jerome Boateng is set to retain his place in the team, meaning Daniel van Buyten would make way for the returning Holger Badstuber.

Defender Breno and striker Ivica Olic have been ruled out of the match as they are still recuperating from injuries.
DID YOU KNOW?

  • Hoffenheim have never won against Bayern Munich, drawing twice and losing four times.
  • In the last home game against the Bavarians, Vedad Ibisevic scored the fastest goal in the Sinsheim outfit's history in the Bundesliga. It took the Bosnia-Herzegovina striker just 36 seconds to pierce Bayern Munich's defence, but his team could not hold on to the lead, and eventually lost 2-1.
  • Hoffenheim's Edson Braafheid joined from the Bavarians in last season's winter break together with David Alaba, while Luiz Gustavo went the other way. Since then the Austria international returned to Bayern and is set for a reunion with his former club.
  • Bayern Munich have twice won against Hoffenheim thanks to an injury-time strike.
  • The Bavarians have conceded only one goal in their opening seven games in the Bundesliga, a record bested only by Stuttgart in season 2003-2004.
  • Jupp Heynckes is yet to win as Bayern Munich coach against Hoffenheim. In his second spell as coach of the club, he managed a 2-2 draw against the Sinsheim outfit, with the Bavarians twice coming from behind through Franck Ribery and Luca Toni after goals from Demba Ba and Carlos Eduardo.
Prediction
Holger Stanislawski's men could have hardly chosen a worse time to look for their first ever win against the Bavarians as Bayern Munich are in blistering form currently. Coming on the back of 2-0 win over Manchester City, while Hoffenheim had a reversed result against Koln last week, it is hard to overlook FC Hollywood as favourites for Satruday's clash.
Editor's Prediction
Hoffenheim 0-2 Bayern Munich