TSG Hoffenheim vs Bayern Munich

PreZero Arena forms the backdrop for a lopsided Bundesliga contest between relegation-battling TSG Hoffenheim and newly-crowned champions Bayern Munich.

It’s been a topsy-turvy Bundesliga season for Hoffenheim, whose hopes of securing top-flight survival hinge on the final day, considering they boast a three-point lead over 16th-placed Heidenheim. After back-to-back league draws, they’ll feel confident about avoiding the dreaded playoffs, yet avoiding defeat against Bayern Munich could be easier said than done. Perhaps surprisingly, only Borussia Monchengladbach have collected as many home points against the Bavarians as Hoffenheim since the start of 2016/17 (13 – W4, D1, L3). However, another upset doesn’t look likely, with the hosts picking up just one win across their last ten home league outings (D4, L4). That said, they’ve claimed two draws across three home matches against the current top four this term, suggesting a favorable outcome is not beyond the realm of possibility. 

Meanwhile, despite winning a record-extending 34th Bundesliga title with two games to spare, Bayern Munich refused to take their feet off the gas, beating Gladbach 2-0 last weekend to extend their unbeaten league streak to eight games (W5, D3). It’s been a decent maiden season for manager Vincent Kompany, whose record of only two top-flight defeats is the joint-best in the past decade alongside Carlo Ancelotti’s title-winning 2016/16 campaign. Firing on all cylinders, the Bavarians have netted a league-high 95 goals and could hit a century on the final day, not least because they’ve bagged 5+ goals in five matches this term, including a 5-0 rout of upcoming rivals Hoffenheim in the reverse fixture.