Bundesliga champions Bayern battle title rivals Wolfsburg at home
Having been eventual champions Bayern Munich’s closest challengers last season, Wolfsburg will look to overturn a poor record in this fixture and inflict midweek misery on their title rivals, having lost eight of their last 10 meetings.
Munich have never lost on home soil to their latest opposition in the Bundesliga, though Wolfsburg secured their first league win over the Bavarians since April 2009 last term, impressively storming to a 4-1 victory at the Volkswagen Arena.
Although, another daunting trip to the Allianz Arena awaits Dieter Hecking’s Die Wolfe and they are 17/2 with Coral to topple the champions on their own patch, while Munich are the overwhelming odds-on 3/10 favourites.
Pep Guardiola’s Bavarians have 15 points from their opening five domestic games so far and look at their imperious best yet again, as they sit behind only Borussia Dortmund on goal difference at this early stage of the campaign.
The determined Spaniard is aiming to clinch a third successive Bundesliga title this term, but will potentially face his toughest test yet with both the rise of Wolfsburg and re-emergence of Dortmund. Though, Guardiola was delighted with his side’s recent outing against Darmstadt.
“I’m very, very pleased. Our approach to the game was excellent,” said Guardiola. “We conceded very few corners and free-kicks, and we battled well. It’s not easy to come here and win after playing in the Champions League.”
“We won which was the most important thing,” continued the former Barcelona boss. “If we’d lost, then there would have been a discussion, but I am the coach and that is my job to decide.
“I didn’t think of Wolfsburg for a second and the best players were on the pitch. I simply thought we should rotate a few players, I trust the whole squad so it was no problem for me.”
Despite their woeful fixture record, Wolfsburg managed to overcome Bayern in the German Cup final at the beginning of this season and will be confident of causing an upset once again, having so far gone unbeaten in all competitions.
Last term, Dutch finisher Bas Dost was one of the key components of Wolfburg’s rise to prominence, but a recent bust-up with boss Hecking has seen him lose a guaranteed starting spot after reacting angrily to being subbed in a recent Champions League clash.
“I was pleased for the team that he scored twice, but the way he has been sauntering around here these past few days is egotism and we don’t need that here,” Hecking stated on Dost, who is 23/10 to net anytime.
“If somebody strolls around for three days as if somebody has taken his toy away then he’s got to reconsider his attitude. I’m going to leave him alone for three days, just like he did with the team.
“Then we will be able to see whether it’s a good idea [to start him] or not, whether we should talk about it or not or whether he goes public with his frustration. If he thinks that is the right way, then he’s in the wrong place in Wolfsburg.”
Deadly Dutchman Dost dispatched a double on home turf against Bayern last term, during the 4-1 thumping, and is 12/1 to do so again if he gets the nod from his wound-up coach Hecking.
German World Cup winning marksman Thomas Muller Opened the scoring over Wolfsburg the previous campaign at the Allianz and is 9/2 (max stake £20) to bag a brace or more on this occasion, having already scored 11 times for club and country since midway through August.
Betting tip: Thomas Muller scores two or more @ 9/2 with a max stake £20
