Bayern Munich will be looking to extend their winning streak as they host SC Daamrstadt in the Bundesliga. The two teams will play each other for the first time since the 2016–17 season. Bayern won both of their home and away games by a score of 1-0.
Preview (Bayern Munich vs. SV Darmstadt 98)
Bayern Munich has gone 12 games without a loss in all competitions since losing the German Super Cup final to RB Leipzig in August. During that stretch, the team has won 10 times and scored 39 goals. The German powerhouses extended their incredible record-breaking unbeaten run in the group stage to 37 games with last weekend’s 3-1 away victory over Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga. On Tuesday, they defeated Galatasaray by the same tally in the Champions League.
Mauro Icardi’s penalty kick at the half-hour mark canceled out Kingsley Coman’s early opener. Bayern rallied with a goal from summer addition Harry Kane in the middle of the second half. Jamal Musiala added a third to complete the triumph. Despite leading Group A with five points, Thomas Tuchel’s team is currently in third place in the Bundesliga. They are two points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen, following eight games. Bayern have won their last seven games and have never lost in eight prior encounters against Darmstadt. They are obviously bubbling with confidence right now and will be hopeful of more success on Saturday.
The Bavarian team also has an amazing home record against promoted teams. They have won 29 of the previous 32 Bundesliga games at the Allianz Arena. They finished with a maximum of five points and scored four goals or more in each of those contests. However, they ended the international break with a real high after beating Augsburg and Werder Bremen back-to-back.
Nevertheless, Leipzig defeated the Lilies 3-1 at home last weekend, preventing them from making it three wins in a row. Within the first twenty-four minutes, Die Roten Bullen had taken a two-goal lead before Thomas Kempe promptly equalized from the penalty spot. However, the visitors doubled their lead through Lois Openda, condemning the home team to their fifth league loss of the year. With 12 points from their first eight games, Torsten Lieberknecht’s team is now sitting 12th. They are just three points above the bottom three. They have started the same as fellow promoted team Heidenheim, who are only one spot above them on goal differential.
Team News
Following a successful hand surgery on Sunday, Leon Goretzka of Bayern Munich was unable to play in the team’s midweek victory against Galatasaray. The German team has since acknowledged that Goretzka will miss their “upcoming matches”. While Dayot Upamecano, Rafael Guerreiro, Tarek Buchmann, and Gabriel Marusic (all with hamstring injuries) are still in the treatment room, Serge Gnabry (fractured forearm) and Manuel Neuer (leg) are getting closer to returning and will be evaluated before starting. Midweek saw Noussair Mazraoui return from a muscular ailment to start. The Moroccan might play at right-back with Konrad Laimer expected to reunite with Joshua Kimmich.
This Saturday, when he leads the line, Harry Kane—who has already scored nine goals in just eight Bundesliga games—will be hoping to reach double figures. Coman, Musiala, and Leroy Sane are all expected to support the Englishman in attack. Fabio Torsiello (hamstring) is out for Darmstadt, and Aaron Seydel (muscle) and Brendan Manu (ankle) are also questionable; the situation will be evaluated prior to kickoff.
Tim Skarke will be replaced in the starting lineup against Bayern by Matthias Bader. He missed the previous game against Leipzig due to illness. Jannik Muller, Christoph Klarer, and Matej Maglica will all likely start in the back three. Despite the fact that Luca Pfeiffer has made just seven appearances in the Bundesliga this season and is still without a goal, the striker is predicted to start at the front this weekend, either with Oscar Vilhelmsson, Fraser Hornby, or Skarke.
Bayern Munich 4 – 1 SV Darmstadt 98
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