Hoffenheim vs Bayern Munich Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 German Bundesliga
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Bayern Munich are looking to keep hold of second-place ahead of Stuttgart, whilst Europa League chasing Hoffenheim could finish anywhere from sixth-to-eighth place depending on the outcome here.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 18th May 2024, UK – 14:30 / US EST – 09:30 / US PST – 07:30
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Sky Sports schedule / US – ESPN
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Sky Go / US – ESPN+
HOFFENHEIM PREVIEW: HOFFENHEIM’S EUROPEAN PROSPECTS LARGELY DEPEND ON THIS RESULT
Hoffenheim begin the day in seventh-place on 43 points, three points behind Eintracht Frankfurt but just a point above Freiburg. This underlines the uncertainty over their final position in the table, with the gap in goal difference low enough for the hosts to overtake Eintracht, should they lose and Pellegrino Matarazzo’s side win here.
Last weekend, Hoffenheim were the only team of those around them in the table to win, getting the better of Darmstadt in outstanding fashion. Pouncing upon the fragility of the already relegated hosts, Hoffenheim ended up smashing them by six goals to nil, doing their goal difference the world of good in the process.
BAYERN MUNICH PREVIEW: TROPHYLESS REKORDMEISTER REFLECT ON SEASON OF FAILURE
Bayern Munich will want to forget this season in a hurry after their heart-breaking Champions League semi-final second-leg defeat at the hands of Real Madrid ended any prospects of lifting a major trophy in 2023-24 following Bayer Leverkusen’s miraculous domestic campaign unseating them at the summit of the Bundesliga.
Right now, the big topic around Munich is who will be in charge next season following Ralph Rangnick ending conversations with the club. The likes of Hansi Flick and Erik ten Hag have reportedly been sounded out, whilst Thomas Tuchel was rumoured to have come to an agreement to remain in charge after all, although he has since confirmed that this isn’t the case.
HOFFENHEIM TEAM NEWS: EXPECT UNCHANGED LINE-UP FOR HOFFENHEIM AFTER DARMSTADT THRASHING
It would be a surprise if Matarazzo opts to tinker with his starting XI after watching them dispatch rock bottom Darmstadt 0-6 most recently. That means Kramaric starting just behind strike partnership Bebou and Beier.
However, the Hoffenheim head coach will be without the likes of Dennis Geiger and Stanley Nsoki, who are both injured alongside the likes of forward Mergim Berisha and midfielder Marco John.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-1-2): Baumann; Kabak, Grillitsch, Akpoguma; Kaderabek, Promel, Stach, Bulter; Kramaric; Bebou, Beier
UNAVAILABLE: Berisha (Injured), Geiger (Injured), John (Injured), Nsoki (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
BAYERN MUNICH TEAM NEWS: TUCHEL SHORT ON ATTACKING MIDFIELD OPTIONS BUT KANE FIT TO PLAY
Following his goal against Wolfsburg, 19-year-old Croatian Lovro Zvonarek could well be rewarded with another start here, especially when taking into account the number of absentees in midfield. The likes of Kingsley Coman, Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane are all out injured, whilst Jamal Musiala is doubtful.
Another youngster in Mathys Tel could also benefit with the experienced Thomas Muller provided some much-needed experience. Harry Kane boasts 36 goals across 32 Bundesliga games this season and 44 from 45 in all competitions.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Kimmich, De Ligt, Dier, Davies; Goretzka, Pavlovic; Zvonarek Müller, Tel; Kane
UNAVAILABLE: Buchmann (Injured), Coman (Injured), Gnabry (Injured), Guerreiro (Injured), Sane (Injured), Sarr (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Boey (Injured), Kim (Injured), Musiala (Injured)
HOFFENHEIM VS BAYERN MUNICH PREDICTION
With both teams wanting victory, we could be in for an entertaining end-of-season encounter at Sinsheim. The offensive nature of the two sides should see plenty of chances created at either end of the pitch and it would be a surprise if we didn’t see the net being rippled on more than one occasion. Regardless of the final outcome here, backing over 2.5 goals scored has to be favoured.
HOFFENHEIM VS BAYERN MUNICH TIP: DOUBLE CHANCE - DRAW/BAYERN MUNICH
