The Bundesliga is officially back underway and Bayern Munich marked off its first match of 2025 with a tricky, 1-0 away win at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Despite the number of credible chances the Rekordmeister were able to generate at Borussia-Park, a second half Harry Kane penalty conversion was what ultimately made the difference and saw Vincent Kompany’s side restore a four-point gap at the top of the table. Bayer Leverkusen had ocme within one point of Bayern two days prior in the match week, having beaten Borussia Dortmund themselves.
Regardless of the amount of missed chances Bayern were left to rue after their slender win over Gladbach, it was another clean sheet for Manuel Neuer to add to his stat sheet, and it was Bayern’s 12th clean sheet this season from all competitions. Of course, both Daniel Peretz and Sven Ulreich have also shared some of the spoils during Neuer’s injury tenures so far this season, but the Bayern captain is relishing the chance to finish off the hinrunde on a high note.
Even though we have already had the winter break period for the holiday’s Hoffenheim’s midweek visit to the Allianz Arena will mark the last match of the hinrunde. Traditionally, the winter pause happens right after the end of the first half of the season, but different cup competitions and the new Champions League format made it so that the calendar would line up perfectly.
“We’re looking forward to a home game in front of our fans. And we want to end the first half of the season on a positive note,” Neuer said ahead of the Hoffenheim visit (via @iMiaSanMia). If Bayern does collect all three points from the clash, they will have tallied 42 points from the hinrunde, which would be one point better off than the 41 points they tallied in the Hinrunde last season under Thomas Tuchel. At that time, though, the optics were a bit different given how well Leverkusen were performing on their way to the domestic double.
Ironically enough, Bayern’s Hinrunde ended with a 3-0 home win over Hoffenheim last season thanks to goals from Jamal Musiala, Aleksandar Pavlović and Kane, so Kompany will be hoping for more of the same in that sense. It is a good time to be facing Christian Ilzer’s side as well, as they are winless in their last eight matches, stretching all the way back to their 4-3 November win over RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga.
Looking to get ready for Bayern Munich vs. Hoffenheim? Then why not do it with the Bavarian Podcast Works — Preview Show? We’re talking each team’s form, Tom Bischof, injuries, and giving predictions on a lineup and the match. You can get the show on Patreon, Spotify, or below:
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