Verdict: Total goals over 3.5
Best odds: 19/20
Bookmaker: BetUS
In a game likely to have great impact on the title race in the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich will play host to RB Leipzig at the Allianz Arena on Saturday afternoon, within the round before last of the campaign.
Bayern Munich
Bayern’s domination over the game in Germany has been of such magnitude that many people refuse to pay too much attention to the Bundesliga at all, citing a perceived lack of competitiveness as the reason. Indeed, the Bavarians won the title in ten consecutive seasons leading up to this one, and as things stand, they’re likely to add another one.
At the moment, Bayern top the table with 68 points. That’s just one more than their main rivals for the crown and the last team to have stolen it away from them in 2011 and 2012, Borussia Dortmund. But the race is obviously still in their hands – if they win this game and the one against Koln a week later, the title is theirs, regardless of what Dortmund may do.
On the other hand, Bayern suffered elimination from the Champions League in the quarterfinals. They were thoroughly beaten by Manchester City in the first leg at the Etihad (3-0) and a 1-1 draw was all they could get in the rematch in Munich.
Bayern’s problems, however, began some time before that, and after they lost to Bayer Leverkusen on March 19, Julian Nagelsmann was fired from the head coach job and replaced by former Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel, and things got worse for a while after a dressing room bust-up between Leroy Sane and Sadio Mane.
Still, the season appears likely to be saved at the very end – victories in the last three matches have kept Bayern ahead in the title race. The last-six run in all competitions includes a 1-1 draw at home against Hoffenheim, the 1-1 draw at home against Manchester City, a shocking 3-1 defeat away to Mainz, a 2-0 home win over Hertha Berlin, a 1-2 win away to Werder Bremen, and a 6-0 thrashing of Schalke at home.
Team News
Striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is considered a doubt for this match due to a knee problem. The same goes for goalkeeper Yann Sommer who has been ill. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (broken leg), left-backs Alphonso Davies and Lucas Hernandez and right-back Josip Stanisic (muscle) are injured.
Yann Sommer will be between the posts if he’s deemed ready, and if not, Sven Ulreich will deputize. Benjamin Pavard is expected to partner Matthijs de Ligt in the heart of defence, with Noussair Mazraoui on the right and Joao Cancelo on the left. Leon Goretzka should return to the middle of the park to play alongside Joshua Kimmich, while the trio of Sane, Thomas Muller and Jamal Musiala supports Serge Gnabry upfront.
RB Leipzig
This match is very important for Leipzig too – a win would guarantee them a place in the Champions League next season, and to do so at the Allianz Arena would obviously mean doing it in style. If they don’t, they’ll anxiously follow the clash between SC Freiburg and Wolfsburg later in the evening.
At the moment, Marco Rose’s team are third with 60 points, one more than Union Berlin in fourth – the team from the German capital are without a doubt the surprise of the season – and four more than Freiburg.
Like Bayern, Leipzig were knocked out from the Champions League by Manchester City, though in the round of 16, but they’ll still have a chance for a trophy this season – on June 3rd, they’ll face Eintracht Frankfurt in the DFB-Pokal final.
Die Rotten Bullen have been on very good form recently, winning five of their last six matches in all competitions. The run includes a 3-2 home win over Augsburg, a 2-0 defeat away to Bayer Leverkusen, a 1-0 win at home over Hoffenheim, a 1-5 win away to Freiburg in the semifinal of the cup, a 0-1 win over the same opponent in the league, and a 2-1 home win over Werder Bremen.
Team News
The only man Rose won’t be able to call upon is Peter Gulacsi, as the Hungarian goalkeeper slowly recovers from an ACL tear.
Janis Blaswich will continue in goal. Willi Orban and Josko Gvardiol will be the centre-back pair, with Benjamin Henrichs and Mohamed Simakan on the defensive flanks. Konrad Laimer and Amadou Haidara are expected to start in the middle of the park, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Emil Forsberg out wide. Timo Werner will pair up with Christopher Nkunku in attack.
Conclusion
Bayern are, of course, the favourites to win this game. though the odds put out by most bookies on a home win arguably don’t reflect enough the fact that Leipzig are also a good team on fine form. But with both teams going for a win, it should be an open contest with plenty of chances at either end of the pitch.
Verdict: Total goals over 3.5
Best odds: 19/20
Bookmaker: BetUS
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