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Bayern logo
Bundesliga
Apr 25, 2015 at 5.30pm UK
 
Hertha Berlin logo

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Preview: Bayern Munich vs. Hertha Berlin

Sports Mole looks ahead to Saturday's Bundesliga clash between leaders Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin.

A third successive Bundesliga title could be clinched this weekend when leaders Bayern Munich host Hertha Berlin at the Allianz Arena.

Despite being forced to rely on results elsewhere to secure the triumph, Bayern can do their part by claiming a win over a side eyeing a late bid for a top-half finish.


Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich's midfielder Thomas Mueller (2nd R) celebrates scoring with his team-mates during the UEFA Champions League second-leg quarter-final football match Bayern Munich v FC Porto in Munich, southern Germany on April 21, 2015© Getty Images

It has been a dramatic week for Pep Guardiola, his players and Bayern's followers, and they were in the headlines for the right reasons on Tuesday evening as they stormed to a 6-1 victory over Porto in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

A stunning performance which saw Bayern score five goals inside the opening 45 minutes came less than a week after Guardiola's side had lost 3-1 in Portugal and parted company with the team doctor, who suggested that he had been blamed for the recent injury crisis at the club.

Recovering in such emphatic fashion should hand a boost to Bayern, who have won nine of their last 10 Bundesliga games to move to the brink of wrapping up a third successive title.

The Bavarian club need to achieve a better result against Hertha than Wolfsburg manage when they meet Borussia Monchengladbach on Sunday evening to secure title success once again, and Guardiola will be hopeful that the triumph can be confirmed as quickly as possible.

Winning the title may have been an inevitability for a number of weeks, but securing it with four games remaining will allow Bayern to focus their efforts elsewhere as they look to keep their treble bid alive.

A DFB-Pokal semi-final against Borussia Dortmund awaits them on Tuesday evening and all eyes will be on the Champions League semi-finals when their opponent is named, so the pressure to maintain the momentum will be vital for Guardiola and his players.

Recent form: WWLWWW
Recent form (all competitions): WDWLWW


Hertha Berlin

Salomon Kalou of Hertha BSC celebrates with team mates after scoring a goal during the Hertha BSC v VfL Wolfsburg - Bundesliga match at Olympiastadion on September 24, 2014© Getty Images

In a season filled with highs and lows, Hertha supporters may finally feel that now is the time to relax as the threat of relegation from the Bundesliga fades away.

Pal Dardai's side appeared to be in serious trouble just a couple of months back as they struggled to collect points, but their resilience has been clear in recent weeks and they are edging closer to safety with five league games remaining in the season.

A run of seven matches without a loss has moved Hertha up to 13th in the table, seven points clear of 16th-placed Paderborn, and another couple of positive results should clinch their Bundesliga spot for another season.

However, with games against Borussia Monchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund to follow in the next couple of weeks, it could be their recent fine run which Dardai looks back on as the most important stage of the campaign.

Continuing their impressive run of results against the champions elect is a difficult task for Hertha, but with confidence high in the Hertha squad, they will be hopeful of causing an upset.

Recent form: DDWWDD


Team News

Bayern Munich's Dutch midfielder Arjen Robben celebrates scoring the first goal during the German first division Bundesliga football match against VfB Stuttgart on February 7, 2015© Getty Images

Despite getting back on track with an excellent performance in midweek, Bayern's injury list remains a lengthy one and they will still be without Arjen Robben at the weekend.

Robben is recovering from an abdominal problem and is not expected to be available for selection for another two weeks, while Javi Martinez is closing in on a return from a knee injury after training with his teammates earlier this week.

Bastian Schweinsteiger should be involved after being an unused substitute against Porto, but it remains unclear whether Franck Ribery will be fit enough to play following his own injury troubles.

Hertha have no new injury concerns to worry about, but Jens Hegeler could be handed a recall in place of Nico Schulz as they look to move a step closer to safety.

Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer, Lahm, Boateng, Dante, Bernat, Schweinsteiger, Thiago, Rode, Gotze, Lewandowski, Muller

Hertha Berlin possible starting lineup:
Kraft, Langkamp, Pekarik, Plattenhardt, Brooks, Skjelbred, Lustenberger, Stocker, Hegeler, Haraguchi, Kalou


Head To Head

Robben scored the only goal of the game to give Bayern all three points in the reverse fixture back in November, and it was a familiar feeling for Hertha, who have struggled to cause an upset in recent years.

Bayern have won the last seven league games against Hertha, and the team from the capital have only recorded one victory in the previous 22 games between the two sides.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Bayern Munich 3-0 Hertha Berlin

Bayern will be full of confidence after their Champions League heroics in midweek, and despite taking on a side who have impressed in the battle against relegation in recent weeks, Guardiola's men should move a step closer to the title with a comfortable win.



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Bayern Munich's Spanish head coach Pep Guardiola (L) looks on during the UEFA Champions League semifinal first leg football match Real Madrid CF vs FC Bayern Munchen at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on April 23, 2014
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Bayern MunichBayern119203672929
2RB Leipzig106311551021
3Eintracht FrankfurtFrankfurt1062226161020
4Bayer LeverkusenB. Leverkusen104512116517
5Freiburg105231311217
6Union BerlinUnion Berlin1044298116
7Borussia DortmundDortmund105141818016
8Werder Bremen104331721-415
9Borussia MonchengladbachBorussia M'bach104241514114
10Mainz 05Mainz103431514113
11Stuttgart103431919013
12Wolfsburg103341918112
13Augsburg113351323-1012
14Heidenheim103161315-210
15Hoffenheim102351319-69
16St Pauli10226712-58
17Holstein Kiel101271225-135
18VfL BochumVfL Bochum100281030-202


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