Seeking to extend their winning streak in all competitions to five matches, Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich play host to SV Darmstadt 98 at the Allianz Arena on Saturday afternoon.
The two teams meet for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign when Bayern came out on top in both home and away fixtures by a 1-0 scoreline.
Match preview
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Since losing the German Super Cup final to RB Leipzig in August, Bayern Munich have enjoyed a 12-game unbeaten run across all competitions, winning 10 times and scoring 39 goals in the process.
The German giants followed up last weekend's 3-1 away victory over Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga with another win on their travels over Galatasaray by the same scoreline in the Champions League on Tuesday, extending their remarkable record-breaking unbeaten run in the group stage to 37 games.
Kingsley Coman saw his early opener cancelled out by Mauro Icardi from the penalty spot on the half-hour mark, but Bayern restored their lead through in-form summer signing Harry Kane midway through the second half before Jamal Musiala added a third to seal the victory.
Thomas Tuchel's side are already sitting five points clear at the summit of Group A at the halfway stage, but they find themselves in third place in the Bundesliga standings, two points behind league leaders Bayer Leverkusen after eight matches.
Bayern are understandably brimming with confidence at present and will be optimistic of further success on Saturday as they have never lost in eight previous top-flight meetings with Darmstadt, winning their last seven in a row.
The Bavarian club also boast an exceptional home record against promoted clubs, winning 29 of their last 32 Bundesliga matches at the Allianz Arena, claiming maximum points in each of their last five and scoring at least four goals in every game in the process.
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Darmstadt were initially struggling to adjust to life back in the Bundesliga after six years away, picking up just one point from their opening five games, but they entered the international break on a real high after securing back-to-back victories over Werder Bremen and Augsburg.
However, the Lilies were unable to make it three wins from three last weekend as they were put to the sword 3-1 by Leipzig on home soil. Die Roten Bullen were two goals in front inside the first 24 minutes before Tobias Kempe quickly pulled one back from the penalty spot, but the visitors restored their two-goal cushion through Lois Openda to condemn the hosts to their fifth league defeat of the season.
Torsten Lieberknecht's men currently sit 12th in the Bundesliga table with 12 points from their opening eight games, just three points above the bottom three, and they have made an identical start to fellow promoted side Heidenheim who sit just one place above them on goal difference.
Darmstadt have had few problems scoring goals so far this season, finding the net in each of their last seven Bundesliga matches, but they have been far from convincing on the defensive front as they have already conceded 22 goals, the joint-most in the division along with basement club Mainz.
The Lilies enter Saturday's contest having failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last 25 away matches in the Bundesliga – the longest run of any current top-flight club and one that does not bode well heading into their clash with a rampant Bayern outfit, who have scored in each of their last 61 home league fixtures.
Team News
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Bayern Munich's Leon Goretzka missed the midweek win over Galatasaray after undergoing a successful hand operation last Sunday, and the German club have confirmed that the midfielder is set to miss their "upcoming matches".
Dayot Upamecano, Raphael Guerreiro, Tarek Buchmann (all hamstring) and Gabriel Marusic (ACL) all remain in the treatment room, and Serge Gnabry (fractured forearm) will be assessed ahead of kickoff, but goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is set to return to the first XI for the first time in 350 days following a lengthy spell out with a broken leg.
Noussair Mazraoui recovered from a muscle issue to start in midweek and the Moroccan could continue at right-back, with Konrad Laimer set to link arms again with Joshua Kimmich in midfield in the absence of Goretzka.
Harry Kane, who has already scored nine Bundesliga goals in just eight games, will be looking to reach double figures when he leads the line this weekend, with Coman, Musiala and Leroy Sane all set to provide support for the Englishman in attack.
As for Darmstadt, Fabio Torsiello is ruled out with a hamstring injury, while Braydon Manu (ankle) and Aaron Seydel (muscle) are both doubtful and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Matthias Bader missed the defeat to Leipzig last time out due to illness, but the right wing-back should be fit to replace Tim Skarke in the first XI against Bayern, while Christoph Klarer, Jannik Muller and Matej Maglica are all set to continue in the back three.
Luca Pfeiffer is yet to score in seven Bundesliga appearances this season, but the striker is expected to lead the line once again this weekend, lining up alongside either Skarke, Oscar Vilhelmsson or Fraser Hornby.
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Mazraoui, Kim, De Ligt, Davies; Kimmich, Laimer; Coman, Musiala, Sane; Kane
SV Darmstadt 98 possible starting lineup:
Schuhen; Klarer, Muller, Maglica; Bader, Holland, Mehlem, Kempe, Nurnberger; Skarke, Pfeiffer
We say: Bayern Munich 4-1 SV Darmstadt 98
Bayern will be motivated by the prospect of climbing to the top of the table with a win on Saturday before current leaders Leverkusen play on Sunday, and Tuchel's men are understandably favourites to claim maximum points against Darmstadt.
The Bavarians have been scoring goals for fun so far this season, netting at least two or more goals in each of their last 12 matches, and we expect them to have more joy in the final third against a leaky Darmstadt outfit on home soil.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
