It is all set at Allianz Arena, where Bayern Munich is ready to host Augsburg in the 11th game of the season. After a week’s international break, both teams will battle to improve their respective positions in the German league. It is going to be interesting to watch as club football is back. Bayern Munich expects to maintain their recent winning streak, and Augsburg aims for a win after two consecutive draws.
Match Details
Match: Bayern Munich vs Augsburg
Stadium: Allianz Arena, Munich
Time: Nov 22, 2024 at 7:30 pm UK
Preview
The hosts are eager to maintain their status as the Bundesliga’s only unbeaten team riding the momentum of four consecutive league wins. In their recent match against St. Pauli, Bayern Munich faced challenges creating opportunities in their attack. Still, it delivered a solid defensive performance, limiting their opponents to just three shots, none of which were on target.
Manager Vincent Kompany’s squad secured their second straight 1-0 victory in that game, a notable shift from their earlier offensive dominance when they netted 20 goals in six matches. Kompany praised the team’s defensive efforts, stating, “We did well defensively, that was definitely our strength today. We didn’t play as effectively going forward as we have recently.”
Since their 4-1 loss to Barcelona in the Champions League on October 23, Bayern has rebounded impressively, winning five straight matches without conceding a goal. Their home record is equally formidable. The Bavarians have won nine and drawn two of their last 11 matches at the Allianz Arena.
Augsburg is treading a fine line in the Bundesliga, sitting just four points above 16th-placed St. Pauli, who currently occupy the relegation playoff spot. Their recent match against Hoffenheim was a closely fought affair, with Augsburg creating the better chances, firing 16 shots compared to Hoffenheim’s 11.
Manager Jess Thorup praised his team’s defensive efforts but acknowledged their second-half struggles. He remarked, “We had a lot of shots and gave very little away defensively. Unfortunately, we didn’t start the second half well, and the opponents controlled the game better.” Augsburg has scored 13 goals so far this season but have also conceded 20, placing them among the Bundesliga’s weakest teams offensively (tied for fifth-worst) and defensively (fourth-worst).
Bayern Munich vs Augsburg: Team News
Aleksandar Pavlovic is nearing a return from a collarbone injury, but if he isn’t ready in time, Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka are expected to anchor the midfield. Bayern will also be without Hiroki Ito, Josip Stanišić, and goalkeeper Sven Ulreich, leaving Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-Jae to form a reliable central defensive duo in front of Manuel Neuer. Palhinha, as stated, will miss the clash due to the injury.
For Augsburg, defender Reece Oxford remains out with long COVID, while midfielders Tim Breithaupt and Fredrik Jensen are not expected back until early December. Nediljko Labrović will likely start in goal, supported by a defensive trio of Christian Matsima, Jeffrey Gouweleeuw, and Keven Schlotterbeck. In midfield, Kristijan Jakić is expected to anchor alongside Frank Onyeka and Arne Maier.
Predicted Lineups
Bayern Munich: Neuer; Guerreiro, Upamecano, Kim, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Olise, Musiala, Coman; Kane
Augsburg: Labrović; Matsima, Gouweleeuw, Schlotterbeck; Wolf, Onyeka, Jakić, Maier, Giannoulis; Claude-Maurice, Tietz
Conclusion
Bayern will look forward to retaining and holding the top spot as they usually do season after season. Currently, in the middle of the league standings, Augsburg has to take some genuine steps to improve its position. Considering we aren’t even halfway to the end of the season, there is still a lot of time to turn things in their favor.
