Bayern Munich vs Augsburg

Bayern Munich will be looking to return to winning ways following a dire European showing in midweek when they take on bottom-half Bundesliga side Augsburg at the Allianz Arena.

Bayer Munich failed to live up to their status as pre-match favourites in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Villarreal in midweek, falling to a disappointing 1-0 loss on Spanish soil. Back to the Bundesliga, things are looking far more comfortable for the perennial German champions, who boast a six-point lead on second-placed Borussia Dortmund, courtesy of back-to-back wins by an aggregate score of 8-1. The ‘Bavarians’ head into this matchday unbeaten in six Bundesliga games on the spin (W4, D2) and could make it seven successive top-flight games without losing for the first time under Julian Nagelsmann. Motivation should not be lacking for Bayern, who found themselves on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline in the reverse fixture earlier this season, ending a run of 12 Bundesliga H2Hs without losing.

On the other hand, Augsburg’s bid to ensure Bundesliga survival has been handed a leg-up after the visitors won their last two league games in a row by an aggregate score of 5-1. Though the travelling supporters could be forgiven for expecting another upset here based on their side’s recent showings, Augsburg’s third consecutive top-flight win for the first time since December 2019 looks a bit far-fetched. Indeed, they have lost four of their five away league matches since the calendar flipped to 2022 (W1), conceding 3+ goals on each occasion. Additionally, the ‘Fuggerstädter’ have suffered five defeats across their six previous Bundesliga visits to the Allianz Arena (D1), including a thrashing 5-2 reverse in this exact fixture last season.