Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich plan to take out the frustrations of their Champions League defeat towards Villarreal on Bavarian derby rivals Augsburg on Saturday.
A 1-0 loss in Spain on Wednesday within the Champions League quarter-final, first leg leaves Bayern below strain for the return in Munich subsequent Tuesday.
“In fact we have been all disillusioned. We made a whole lot of errors on Wednesday,” admitted Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann on Friday.
“On Saturday, there’s a Bundesliga sport and factors we need to get. We’ll strive a whole lot of issues tomorrow that may even be vital on Tuesday.”
Nagelsmann says defender Niklas Suele and midfielder Leon Goretzka will each begin towards Augsburg.
“We need to give some gamers some rhythm for Tuesday,” he added and revealed Canada wing-back Alphonso Davies shall be rested.
Augsburg have gained three of their final 4 video games and shocked Bayern with a 2-1 upset win at residence final November.
Nonetheless, their head coach Markus Weinzierl is cautious of going through wounded Bayern.
“When Julian Nagelsmann’s crew are up for it, then will probably be enormously tough for us,” mentioned Weinzierl.
Bayern realized Friday that regardless of a substitution mix-up in final weekend’s 4-1 win at Freiburg, which briefly led to them having 12 gamers on the pitch, the German FA (DFB) will let the consequence stand.
With six league video games left, Bayern are 9 factors clear.
They may very well be confirmed Bundesliga champions for the tenth straight season within the subsequent two weeks.
For the primary time because the Covid pandemic began, a full home of 74,000 is anticipated at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium when Hertha Berlin host Union in one other derby conflict.
Hertha beat their rivals 4-0 and 3-1 behind closed doorways of their final two residence league video games, which Union avenged with a 3-2 away win final January within the German Cup.
“That is one thing new, we’ve by no means performed at a full Olympic Stadium and are trying ahead to it,” mentioned Union coach Urs Fischer.
Union want a win to bridge the three-point hole to the European locations, whereas Hertha are second from backside with six video games left to collect sufficient factors to remain up.
One to observe: Domenico Tedesco
Since he changed Jesse Marsch as head coach in December, RB Leipzig have misplaced simply two of their 19 video games below Tedesco — a run which incorporates Thursday’s 1-1 residence first-leg draw towards Atalanta within the Europa League quarter-finals.
They’ve picked up 26 league factors within the second half of the season, three greater than Bayern.
Tedesco has tightened the defence and breathed confidence into the assault with winger Christopher Nkunku in dazzling kind.
The Frenchman was excellent final weekend with three assists and a aim in a 4-1 rout away at second-placed Dortmund.
Leipzig are fourth within the desk, heading in the right direction for a Champions League place subsequent season with a three-point buffer over fifth earlier than Sunday’s sport at Hoffenheim.
Tedesco is “joyful” with their league place, “as a result of we’ve got labored for it,” however urged his facet to remain focus for the final six league video games.
Key stats
300 – the league wins Thomas Mueller may have racked up if Bayern beat Augsburg, no different participant has reached the milestone with one membership.
150 – the milestone of Bundesliga wins midfielder Joshua Kimmich can attain Saturday in simply 196 Bundesliga video games, which might equal Arjen Robben’s league document.
Seven – years since Augsburg final gained at Bayern’s Allianz Enviornment.
Fixtures (all occasions 1330GMT until acknowledged)
Friday
VfB Stuttgart v Borussia Dortmund (1830)
Saturday
Bayern Munich v Augsburg, VfL Wolfsburg v Arminia Bielefeld, Cologne v Mainz 05, Greuther Fuerth v Borussia Moenchengladbach, Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (1630)
Sunday
VfL Bochum v Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt v Freiburg (1530), RB Leipzig v Hoffenheim (1730)
