Soccer

Hoffenheim vs. Bayern Munich: Preview and TV schedule

If Bayern Munich get a result against Hoffenheim, it will tie them for the longest unbeaten run in the history of the Bundesliga.

by Phillip Quinn

Nov 2, 2013, 7:00 AM UTC

Johannes Simon

Bayern Munich has the opportunity to tie the 1981-82 and 1982-83 Hamburg side with the longest unbeaten run in Bundesliga play at 36 matches. The record would be another in a long list of records held by the Bavarian giants.

The defending champions are unbeaten to start the season with eight wins and two draws. The European Champions have been playing some brilliant football this season but looked a bit out of sorts last week against Hertha Berlin. Bayern will follow up this weekend’s game with their midweek Champions League game away to Viktoria Plzen before a match at the weekend with Augsburg heading into the international break.

Aside from Stefan Kießling’s “phantom tor” two weeks ago, Hoffenheim haven’t lost since September 21 against Wolfsburg. Last weekend, they thrashed Hannover 4-1 in a red card riddled beat down.

Hannover can score goals with the best of them, but the difference in the two sides is very evident every time both sides take the field. Bayern play defense. Hoffenheim haven’t decided that they want to play defense yet. Bayern have allowed only 6 goals this season to Hoffenheim’s 23. Only last place Eintracht Braunschweig has conceded as many goals as Markus Gisdol’s side.

Pep Guardiola will have his side ready to go this weekend, and they should put a few goals past this week Hoffenheim defense.

Projected Lineups

Hoffenheim: Casteels; Beck, Abraham, Süle, Salihovic; Polanski, Strobl, Rudy; Volland, Roberto Firmino; Modeste

Bayern Munich: Neuer; Lahm, van Buyten, J. Boateng, Alaba; Javi Martinez; Robben, T. Müller, Schweinsteiger, Ribery; Mandzukic

Injuries and Suspensions

Hoffenheim: Fabian Johnson (possible - ankle), Jeremy Tolja (possible - thigh)

Bayern Munich: Thiago Alcantara (out - ankle), Holger Badstuber (out - knee), Toni Kroos (possible - groin), Claudio Pizarro (out - thigh), Arjen Robben (possible - groin), Xherdan Shaqiri (out - thigh)