The German Bundesliga kicks off on Friday when six-time defending champions Bayern Munich welcome Julian Nagelsmann’s Hoffenheim at 20:30 CET at the Allianz Arena.
Bet on Bayern Munich vs Hoffenheim with bet365
Bayern – Hoffenheim Preview
Bayern Munich opened the last five seasons as the champions and won all five of those opening matches. They’ll be looking to extend that streak against Julian Nagelsmann, the most wanted young coach in Europe, who led Hoffenheim to their first ever Champions League berth last season by claiming the third spot in the league.
He has already agreed to join RB Leipzig next season, but it doesn’t mean his Hoffenheim ambitions have diminished.
“I always strive for the maximum. And the maximum is the championship title.”
His team is off to a flying start, defeating Kaiserslautern 6-1 in the first round of the German Cup, a game in which Joelinton scored a hat-trick. The 22-year-old Brazilian striker spent the last two seasons on loan at Rapid Vienna and looks to be ready to take the next step in his development.
Robert Lewandowski seems hungry for goals as well. After a difficult summer filled with transfer rumours and worsened by Poland’s disappointing World Cup exit, the Polish striker started the season with a hat-trick in Bayern’s 5-0 Super Cup victory over Eintracht Frankfurt and added another goal in the DFB Pokal. Lewandowski has struck on opening matchday in the last three years and you can bet he’ll be craving to do the same tomorrow.
Bayern is led by new manager Niko Kovac, who replaces Jupp Heynckes. The Croatian has plenty of doubters and he’ll try to prove them all wrong with a trophy-laden campaign.
Bayern – Hoffenheim Bet365 Odds
You can say bet365 has exaggerated with the extremely low odds on a Bayern win, especially considering Hoffenheim have a positive record against Bayern under Nagelsmann (two wins, one draw, one defeat). They are simply teasing a Draw or a win for Hoffenheim but be careful. Hoffenheim have beaten every current Bundesliga club away from home except for Bayern Munich.
Draw or Hoffenheim win 4 (3/1)
Bayern Munich win and both teams to score 2.3 (13/10)
Bayern – Hoffenheim Team News
On the injury front, David Alaba could be fit enough to start for Niko Kovac. Serge Gnabry is doubtful, while James Rodriguez is likely to start on the bench, along with Renato Sanches and new arrival Leon Goretzka.
Bet on Bayern Munich vs Hoffenheim with bet365
Nagelsmann has plenty of injury concerns, as Nadiem Amiri, Benjamin Hübner, Kerem Demirbay, Dennis Geiger and Lukas Rupp are all unlikely to feature. Summer acquisition Leonardo Bittencourt, on the other hand, is in line to start.