Hoffenheim vs Bayern Munich – Match preview and team news

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The Football Faithful

·20 settembre 2025

Hoffenheim vs Bayern Munich – Match preview and team news

Bayern Munich and Hoffenheim go head-to-head in the Bundesliga on Saturday at the PreZero Arena.

Both sides will be looking to maintain their early-season momentum, with Bayern sitting atop the table and Hoffenheim seeking to build on their promising start under Christian Ilzer.

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Hoffenheim vs Bayern Munich – Match Preview and Team News

Date: 20th September, Saturday.
Kick-off: 2:30pm BST.
Venue: Prezero Arena, Sinshein.

Hoffenheim Team News

Christian Ilzer’s side face several injury concerns ahead of Saturday’s clash. Japanese defender Koki Machida remains sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury suffered in their opening day victory over Bayer Leverkusen. The centre-back underwent surgery and is expected to remain out until at least late October.

Adam Hlozek is also unavailable due to a broken ankle, while Valentin Gendrey continues his recovery from an ankle injury. The positive news for Hoffenheim is the strong early form of new signings Tim Lemperle and Fisnik Asllani, who have combined well in their first four competitive games. The strike partnership has brought fresh energy to Hoffenheim’s attack under Ilzer.

Bayern Munich Team News

Vincent Kompany’s squad has been hit by multiple defensive injuries. Josip Stanišić suffered a partial tear of the medial ligament in his right knee during Wednesday’s 3-1 Champions League victory over Chelsea and will be out for several weeks. The Croatian defender was initially thought to have only sustained a minor knock but scans revealed more serious damage.

Alphonso Davies remains out with a knee injury sustained earlier this season, while Hiroki Ito continues his recovery from a long-term ankle problem. Raphael Guerreiro is also unavailable due to abdominal muscle issues.

Jamal Musiala remains sidelined with an ankle injury, depriving Bayern of one of their key creative forces. Despite these absences, Bayern’s attacking line remains formidable with Harry Kane already netting five Bundesliga goals this season.

Form

Hoffenheim

Ilzer’s transformation at Hoffenheim has been evident from their opening fixtures. After a disappointing 15th-place finish last season that left them battling relegation, the Austrian coach has implemented an intensive, high-energy playing style. Hoffenheim’s players have covered more ground than any team except Bayern this season, completing 2,222 intensive runs in their first three matches.

Their campaign began with an impressive 2-1 victory away to defending runners-up Bayer Leverkusen. Despite suffering a 3-1 home defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt, Hoffenheim bounced back with a convincing 4-2 win at Union Berlin. Ilzer has emphasised maximum commitment from every player, stating: “Every single player who wants to be part of this must reach the highest level in terms of mentality and team spirit”.

Bayern Munich

Bayern have made a perfect start under Vincent Kompany, winning all six competitive matches this season. Their Bundesliga form has been particularly impressive, scoring 14 goals while conceding just two in three matches. The Bavarians opened with a 6-0 demolition of RB Leipzig, followed by a 3-2 victory at Augsburg and a dominant 5-0 home win against Hamburg.

Wednesday’s 3-1 Champions League victory over Chelsea continued their excellent form, with Kane scoring twice. Kompany praised his team’s performance, saying: “The boys had fun on the pitch and deserved to win the game”. The Belgian manager has instilled a clear tactical identity, with Bayern showing both attacking fluency and defensive solidity.