FIRST TEAM
10/21/2022

Bayern Munich: The hunted becomes the hunter

Most clubs would probably be rather satisfied with second place in the table after 10 rounds of matches – but not Bayern Munich. "If you're not first, you might as well be last," is the way they see things in Bavaria, and so being second best is not something they are prepared to accept – even temporarily. When they take on TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday (15:30 CET / Live Ticker at tsg-hoffenheim.de), the record champions will be targeting points to close the gap to league leaders Union Berlin. But the Kraichgau club could overtake Bayern with a win and write the next chapter in what has been a highly successful first half-season to date.

Over the last decade, there has only been one season in which FC Bayern had fewer than 20 points on the board after 10 league matches: in the 2019/20 campaign, the record champions found themselves in unfamiliar territory with "only" 18 points to their name – and Niko Kovac was consequently relieved of his duties as head coach following Matchday 10. The tally of 19 points amassed this season may not be leading to serious discussions about Julian Nagelsmann's future, but the standings are not bringing a smile to the faces of club officials, supporters and the former TSG coach himself either.

At the beginning of the season, it initially looked like Bayern had retained the trademark dominance with which they won the league title in each of the past 10 seasons. Three wins from the first three games with a goal difference of 15-1 – Mia san Mia and Mia san champions.

But that was followed by three draws against Mönchengladbach, Union Berlin and VfB Stuttgart, before a 1-0 defeat away to FC Augsburg triggered "crisis" mode. The fact that two convincing victories in the Champions League away to Inter Milan (2-0) and at home to Barcelona (2-0) came during that time did little to assuage concerns about Bundesliga form.

Julian Nagelsmann, who has been in the dugout since summer 2021 and previously coached TSG Hoffenheim from 2016 to 2019, was forced to re-style the attack in the lead-up to the season. Robert Lewandowski's departure to Barcelona left a hole in Bayern's frontline, with the classic centre-forward replaced by the versatile attacker Sadio Mané. Despite the consistently high goal output – the Bavarians possess the best attacking record in the league with 30 goals – Lewandowski's name lingered in the Munich air throughout the winless streak. Recently, however, a familiar face at the club has been positioning himself as the successor to the two-time World Footballer of the Year: Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is on a hot streak and offering an internal solution to the No. 9 problem.

Thanks in part to the former PSG player, the Augsburg defeat has been followed by five wins and one draw from six competitive games. Bayern are by no means in a slump given that run of results – but they will be under pressure in Sinsheim. They will be without the recently in-form Germany international Leroy Sane, who is suffering from torn muscle fibres. Lucas Hernandez (muscle bundle tear) and Bouna Sarr (knee op) will not be available either. There are also question marks over the involvement of Manuel Neuer und Thomas Müller.

Bayern's objective when they take on TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday will be to not lose sight of league leaders Union Berlin, with the four points between them already a considerable gap. A defeat, however, is likely to lead to further discussions; in the worst-case scenario for Bayern, they could be overtaken by not only TSG but Freiburg and Frankfurt too. The last time FC Bayern had fewer than 20 points after 11 matchdays was in 2011, when Borussia Dortmund became champions.  

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