Bayern Munich will look to end the season with a first win in three Bundesliga outings on Saturday afternoon, as they travel to Wolfsburg.
Julian Nagelsmann’s men have evidently taken their feet off the gas a little since securing their tenth successive league title with a 3-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund last month, losing by the same scoreline to Mainz and drawing 2-2 with Stuttgart in their previous two – parading the Meisterschale around the Allianz Arena after the latter result will have made recent form seem quite irrelevant, though.
A final day win, however, would certainly go down well and it’s definitely a possibility against a Wolfsburg side that now cannot secure a top-half finish after earning Champions League qualification last term. Two wins and a draw in their previous three Bundesliga games, though, puts them in good stead to enjoy a strong conclusion to the campaign.
Here’s 90min’s preview of this one…
When is kick off? Saturday 14 May, 14:30 (GMT)
Where is it being played? Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg
What TV channel is it on? Not televised in the UK, ESPN+ (US)
Highlights? Sky Sports Football YouTube channel
First-choice goalkeeper Koen Casteels was absent for the hosts’ 1-0 win in Koln last time out and is unlikely to be fit to feature for this one, likely meaning another start between the sticks for Pavao Pervan.
Remaining in the treatment room will certainly be Paulo Otavio, William and Luca Waldschmidt, while Sebastiaan Bornauw represents a doubt.
Defender Jeremy Rousillon, however, looks ready to return to the side after missing last weekend’s victory.
An uncharacteristic red card for Kingsley Coman last time out rules the blistering winger out of this one, meaning a start for Leroy Sane if the German has recovered from the illness that saw him miss his side’s draw last time out.
Elsewhere, Nagelsmann must only contend with the absences of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Bouna Sarr through respective knee injuries, while Corentin Tolisso is nearing a return to fitness although is doubtful to be ready for the final day.
While the German champions have nothing left to play for this season, letting things fizzle out in damp fashion is simply not acceptable. And, against a side condemned to a disappointing bottom-half finish this campaign, Die Roten will be expected to end on a high.
Spells of poor form have been a common occurrence this calendar year for Bayern – but they never seem to last too long.
Prediction: Wolfsburg 1-3 Bayern Munich
