Friday, January 27, 2012

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28.01. (Sat) 15:30 Bayern Munchen - Wolfsburg

VfL Wolfsburg vs. Bayern Munich, Jerome Boateng & Patrick Helmes
Bongarts

PROBABLE LINEUPS

BAYERN MUNICH


Neuer
Rafinha, Boateng, Badstuber, Lahm
Schweinsteiger, Kroos
Robben, Muller, Ribery
Gomez
WOLFSBURG


Benaglio
Trasch, Madlung, Felipe Lopes, Rodriguez
Vieirinha, Josue, Jiracek, Schafer
Dejagah, Mandzukic

Franck Ribery returns to the starting line-up for Bayern, meaning that coach Jupp Heynckes will have a selection headache: one of Thomas Muller, Toni Kroos or Anatoliy Tymoshchuk will sit out, more likely than not the latter. Following Daniel van Buyten's injury last weekend, Jerome Boateng will shift to occupy the Belgian's central defensive position, while Rafinha will stand in at right-back.

For Wolfsburg, Mario Mandzukic has recovered from a knock, having missed last week's action, and is expected to play from the start. There is a question mark over the position of right-winger, as Koo Ja-Cheol and newcomer Vieirinha are in a head-to-head race for the nomination. Similarly in central defence, Alexander Madlung and Marco Russ will vie for a starting berth. Jan Polak, Srdjan Lakic, and Thomas Hitzlsperger are anticipated to be omitted from Felix Magath's matchday squad.

DID YOU KNOW

  • Bayern Munich have scored more and conceded fewer goals at home than any Bundesliga team, but have three fewer points than Schalke on their own soil.
  • The German record champions have found the net within the opening 15 minutes on nine occasions this season, a Bundesliga best by a margin of three.
  • Should he appear as expected, Mario Gomez will participate in his 200th Bundesliga game on Saturday.
  • Wolfsburg have taken just four points away from home all season; their only win came on August 6 in their Bundesliga opener.
  • Felix Magath's side have brought in eight players this January, and offloaded three.
  • Sebastian Polter, the 20-year-old striker who made his Bundesliga debut in December, has scored his team's last two goals, the winners against Koln and Stuttgart.
Prediction
Felix Magath is always especially keen to bring out the best from his teams ahead of a clash with Bayern, but the record champions are unlikely to slide for a second game. The hosts have an impressive record at home, and the return of Franck Ribery will be a big boost.
Editor's Prediction
Bayern 2-0 Wolfsburg