Bayer Leverkusen's closest challengers at the top of the Bundesliga meet at the Allianz Arena on Sunday evening, when Bayern Munich host Stuttgart.
A humbling defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend has dented Bayern's title push, but a win at Old Trafford in midweek will have restored confidence.
Match preview
© Reuters
Bayern's loss at the Deutsche-Bank Arena last Saturday was scarcely believable, given the 5-1 scoreline that Thomas Tuchel's side were condemned to.
They were slightly let off the hook as Leverkusen also dropped points the following day against their upcoming opponents Stuttgart, but they remain four points adrift of Xabi Alonso's side.
Like last season, when Borussia Dortmund pushed Bayern all the way for the title, it appears the Bavarian side will have a similar challenge to overcome this time around.
While being four points back, Bayern still have a game in hand after the postponement of their clash with Union Berlin two weeks ago, but they may be more than happy to play that game after the winter break given their ropey form of late.
After limping past Galatasaray with two late goals, Bayern then almost slipped up at home to Heidenheim, being pegged back to 2-2 before winning late on again.
A narrow 1-0 win at Koln followed before being held at home by Copenhagen, as the thumping by Eintracht then followed.
Tuchel will have been delighted to see his side dominate at Old Trafford on Tuesday, though, beating Manchester United to top their Champions League group at a canter.
The champions are likely to face a more difficult test by Stuttgart here, though, than the one they face in Manchester in midweek.
The visitors come into the fixture just one point behind Bayern after a superb start of their own.
© Reuters
An excellent performance in one of the games of the season against Leverkusen on Sunday saw them come away with a 1-1 draw, as both sides registered an xG above three and had 42 shots between them.
Stuttgart remain five points behind Leverkusen, and a first title since 2007 looks unlikely given Bayern are in the race too and are so often imperious, but they do have a huge chance of the top four.
Die Schwaben have not qualified for the Champions League since 2008-09, and sitting six points above Dortmund in fifth means they have an excellent opportunity, especially considering the Bundesliga may get a fifth place in next season's revamped format.
Sebastian Hoeness's side have only slipped up three times, but all have been in emphatic style, so they will hope to avoid a repeat in a game where they are ultimately still big underdogs.
Their two away defeats so far came at newly-promoted Heidenheim and to RB Leipzig, who thrashed them 5-1, while they were also beaten at home by Hoffenheim despite racking up an xG of 3.6.
Team News
© Reuters
Bayern full-back Noussair Mazraoui was taken off at half time for the second game running in midweek, but after limping late in the first half at Old Trafford, it may have been an enforced change.
Konrad Laimer replaced Mazraoui on both occasions, and the Austrian could come into the side from the start here, as defensive injuries mount with Matthijs de Ligt and Bouna Sarr both out.
Serge Gnabry is the other injury concern, as he missed the trip to England after going off injured within five minutes of coming on last weekend.
Jamal Musiala should feature from the off again here after making his first start since returning from injury against Man United in midweek.
There are no new injury concerns for Stuttgart, but they still have numerous players out ahead of this trip to Bavaria.
Japanese international Hiroki Ito is absent with a muscular issue, while Lilian Egloff is sidelined despite returning briefly for a friendly during the November international break.
Youngster Luca Raimund remains out with a broken nose, along with Nikolas Nartey, who is yet to feature this season.
Despite being on loan from Bayern, goalkeeper Alexander Nubel should start between the sticks for the visitors here against his parent club.
The Bundesliga's player of the month for November, Deniz Undav, is set to partner Serhou Guirassy up front, with the clinical duo responsible for 24 of Stuttgart's 34 league goals so far this season.
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, Kim, Guerreiro; Kimmich, Goretzka, Musiala; Sane, Kane, Coman
Stuttgart possible starting lineup:
Nubel; Stenzel, Rouault, Zagadou, Mittelstadt; Millot, Karazor, Fuhrich, Silas; Guirassy, Undav
We say: Bayern Munich 4-1 Stuttgart
Bayern often turn on the style when doubts creep in and their opponents go into the game feeling optimistic, as their recent 4-0 win at Dortmund showed.
Stuttgart have the ability to be competitive here but may be helpless at stopping a Bayern machine which can blow any side away on their day.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Andrew Delaney
