Bayern Munich vs. Augsburg: Match Preview, Odds & Prediction

Bundesliga officials Bayern Munich are scheduled to play bottom-half Augsburg on Friday at Allianz Arena, their 11th league game of the season, as the international break ends.

With 26 points from a possible 30, more than twice the total of the visitors, who are sixth last in 13th place with 12 points and were held to a 0-0 draw by Hoffenheim on November 10. The Bavarians defeated the last St Pauli 1-0 on November 9.

Previous Matches and Head-to-head

Having won their four most recent top-flight games, the hosts will be keen to maintain their position as the only undefeated side remaining in the Bundesliga.

Bayern made little in the final third against St Pauli but managed to limit their opponent to only three efforts, none of which were on target.

Although Vincent Kompany's squad scored goals in the last six games, 20 times, their triumph over St Pauli was their second straight 1-0 victory, in contrast.

Kompany, who underlined his team's efforts without the ball, told reporters: "We performed well defensively; it was our strength today. The Bavarians were strong from a defensive standpoint. In the future, we will not play as dynamically as we have lately.

Bayern has won their five next games without conceding after losing 4-1 against Barcelona on October 23 in the Champions League.

Having won nine and drawn two of their past eleven games at Allianz Arena, Kompany's team has an excellent home record; they have also scored twenty goals and surrendered only three times in their six home games this campaign.

Regarding Augsburg, they are four points behind St Pauli, the division's relegation playoff team from sixteenth place.

Though the Fuggerstadter presumably dominated the game in terms of chances since they generated 16 shots compared to Hoffenheim's 11, their encounter versus the city was tightly fought.

Manager Jess Thorup said the squad lost control of events in the second half, praising his side for their defensive tenacity after the draw: "We had a lot of shots and gave very little away defensively. We started the second half poorly; hence, the opponent controlled the game better."

Augsburg has 13 goals in the Bundesliga, but they have also let up 20 goals. This makes them the fourth-worst defensive and fifth-worst offensive teams in the league.

Although Thorup's squad is in the relegation zone, they have gathered eight points from the last 15 on offer, as much as they had earned in the previous 13 league games; they are undefeated in their four most recent matches, having drawn twice and won twice.

The side has been defeated in seven of its past eight away games in the top level, drawing just once in that timeframe. The visitors' away record is alarming.

Bayern Munich x Augsburg Team News

Without defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha, who has been ruled out until January 2025, Bayern will have to devise new ways of resisting rival assaults.

Aleksandar Pavlovic is almost returning from a fractured collarbone; should Friday's game come too soon, Kompany might deploy a double pivot comprising Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka.

Expect Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-jae to guard Manuel Neuer's goal since the hosts will also be missing center-back Hiroki Ito, right-back Josip Stanisic, and goalkeeper Sven Ulreich.

Long COVID keeps Augsburg defender Reece Oxford missing; meanwhile, midfielders Tim Breithaupt and Fredrik Jensen are not expected to return until early December.

Almost set to start between the posts behind a back, three of Christian Matsima, Jeffrey Gouweleeuw, and Keven Schlotterbeck are Nediljko Labrovic.

Kristijan Jakic will be chosen alongside Frank Onyeka and Arne Maier based on a midfield three.

Our Predictions

Bayern Munich to win and over 2.5 goals @ 1.30 on Sky247.ng

Although Bayern has only won by small margins in their last two games, they have been explosive in front of goal all season; hence, it would not be unexpected if they scored many times.

Augsburg might generate opportunities in transition as the hosts won't be able to choose a specialized defensive midfielder; however, the Bavarians should show up for Friday's game as big favorites.

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