Bayern Munich are back under the guidance of former manager Jupp Heynckes for the remainder of the season and the German will be aiming to take the club back to the top of the Bundesliga table this weekend. The defending champions travel to play Hamburg at the Volksparkstadion knowing a win could take them to the summit of the Bundesliga. Bayern Munich have enjoyed huge dominance in German football recently and have won the title on each of the past 5 seasons. They will not want to allow their grip to weaken at the top of the German game and 3 points is essential from this match.
German Bundesliga – Imtech Arena, Hamburg – Saturday 21st October – 14:30 UK Time
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Draw Best Odd of: 6 at Ladbrokes |
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Hamburg
FC BayernHamburg Form
Hamburg started the season promisingly, winning matches at home against Augsburg and away to Koln. However, this is where the optimism came to and end and since the 3-1 victory in Koln, Hamburg have failed to win a Bundesliga game. There have been defeats at home to RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund plus away losses at Hannover 96, Bayer Leverkusen and Mainz. The only point Hamburg have gained in their last 6 Bundesliga games came in a 0-0 home draw with Werder Bremen prior to the international break. Hamburg have failed to score a goal in 5 of their last 6 league games, including their last 3 at home and need to turn things around quickly to avoid a relegation battle this season.
Bayern Munich Form
Having gone 3 games without a win, Bayern Munich returned to winning ways following the international break, defeating Freiburg 5-0 at home in what was arguably their most convincing performance of the season. This was followed up with a comfortable 3-0 win over Celtic in the Champions League at the Allianz Arena and normal service seems to have resumed for Bayern Munich under Heynckes.
Despite was considered a stuttering start to the season; Bayern Munich are still unbeaten in 14 of their last 15 Bundesliga matches and have lost only 2 of their last 16 away league games. They have also been winning at half-time in their last 5 Bundesliga games and Heynckes will be hoping to continue that form but see out the second half of games with a win.
Team News
Hamburg will be without Nicolai Müller who is injured, Vasilije Janjicic who is unavailable and Jann-Fiete Arp who is on international duty. Kyriakos Papadopoulos is back from suspension and should start the match in central defence. Bayern Munich travel without Juan Bernat, Manuel Neuer, Franck Ribery and Javi Martinez, all of which are injured. Heynckes may choose to rotate his team form mid-week which could see starts for Arturo Vidal, Corentin Tolisso and Nicklas Sule.
Top Betting Tips
Given the dreadful form of Hamburg and the return to winning ways of Bayern Munich, it would be a huge shock if this match ends with anything other than an away win. This is reflected in the odds as Bayern Munich are 1/6 with Ladbrokes to take maximum points. You can also get 1/2 for Bayern Munich to win both halves of the game. Hamburg have scored 1 goal in 4 home league games this season. Bayern Munich will see this as the perfect opportunity to keep a third clean sheet in a row. Bayern Munich to win to nil is 13/15 at Ladbrokes. Robert Lewandowski is looking to move above Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the top scorers’ chart and can be backed at 2/1 with William Hill to open the scoring in this game.