Preview: Bayern Munich vs. Wolfsburg – prediction, team news, line-ups

Reigning Bundesliga champion Bayern Munich host Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga on Sunday.

The visitors are likely to be on a damage control exercise after Bayern hit five against RB Leipzig and six against Eintracht Frankfurt in their first two games of the competitive season.

game preview

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Bayern did indeed start the season brilliantly sadio mane He didn’t take time to settle in after his £35million move from Liverpool.

There was always a nagging feeling that despite his brilliant single goalscorer Robert Lewandowski was a little too static for Julian Nagelsman‘s preferred playstyle. With Mane at the helm, Bayern already look like a more fluid attacking unit.

That was evident in Bayern’s fourth goal in last Friday’s 6-1 win over Frankfurt, when Mane fell deep before catching the attention of an opposing defender. The Senegalese striker skilfully waited for the right moment to come on Thomas Müllerwho squared the ball for Jamal Musiala tapping home up close.

The altruism of world-class players was evident in Bayern’s opening win. Sure, after that it became easier to play with freedom Joshua Kimmich and Benjamin Pavard had given the guests a two-goal cushion with two brilliant hits in the early changes Serge Gnabry several times opted to square the ball rather than shoot himself, notably when Muller missed an open goal and Mane scored a striking header on his Bundesliga debut.

After Gnabry had made the five before halftime, the only flaw was the trip to Frankfurt Manuel Neuer – who was no doubt bored with the lack of action he faced before the break – romped around the ball while thwarting his chances of conceding by allowing Randal Kolo to rob him and tap into an empty web from the edge of the area.

It remains to be seen how long Bayern can play so well, but early signs are already ominous for the rest of the Bundesliga.

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Someone who knows the quality of FC Bayern is Niko Kovacwho guided Bayern to the home double in 2019 before leaving the club later in the year after a disappointing start to the following season.

The first league game for the former Croatian defender, who is now in charge of Wolfsburg, didn’t quite go to plan at home against Werder Bremen last week as his side drew 2-2 with the newly promoted side.

Former Manchester City striker Luke Nmecha gave the hosts an early lead by pushing the ball past the onslaught Jiri Pavlenkabut Bremen shot back through Nicholas Vollkrug‘s strike from a distance and Leonardo Bittecourt‘s great header before the break.

substitute Joshua Guilavogui at least he saved his side a blush late on as the midfielder salvaged a point by completing a corner’s second ball well. However, Wolves will need a much stronger performance if they are to avoid a difficult defeat in Munich on Sunday.

FC Bayern Munich Bundesliga form:

Form of Bayern Munich (all competitions):

Form of the Wolfsburg Bundesliga:

Wolfsburg form (all competitions):

Team News

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Nagelsmann is extremely unlikely to change the starting XI after beating Leipzig 5-3 and Frankfurt 6-1 in the opening weeks of the season.

That means signings Matthijs de Ligt, Ryan Gravenberch and Noussair Mazraoui should all be back on the bench, although Nagelsmann rewarded the trio last Friday in Frankfurt with his Bundesliga debuts in the second half of the season.

Marcel Sabitzer will continue in midfield alongside Kimmich in his absence Leon Goretzkawho is still out due to a knee injury Kingsley Coman is still suspended.

Leroy Sane will eventually come off the bench, with the in-form Musiala being favored as part of a thriving offensive unit.

Meanwhile, Wolfsburg will arrive without the injured couple Yannick Gerhardt and Jonas windwho scored in the 2-2 draw against Bayern in May.

Guilavogui should have earned a place in midfield after salvaging a point against Bremen with an off-the-bench goal in Kovac’s first league game Josip Brekalo may make way as the 50-year-old seeks to beef up his side’s engine room.

The suitability of Patrick Wimmer will be crucial to find the runs of Nmecha and Omar groundhogboth of which should receive the nod before aging Max Kruse in attack.

FC Bayern Munich possible starting line-up:
News; Pavard, Upamecano, Hernández, Davies; Kimmich, Sabitzer; Musiala, Müller, Gnabry; mane

Wolfsburg possible starting line-up:
Crate; Baku, Bornauw, Lacroix, Van de Ven; Arnold, Guilavogui, Svanberg; Wimmer, Nmecha, marmot

We say: Bayern Munich 4-0 Wolfsburg

With Nagelsmann’s offensive players, who are currently in an exceptional form, we can’t see beyond a clear victory for Bayern on Sunday.

Only one mistake from Neuer prevented Bayern from staying clean in Frankfurt last week, so we expect they will do that on home soil this time.

For data analysis of the most likely outcomes, goal scores and more for this game, please click here.

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