Bayern Munich will be looking to to win a third Bundesliga game in a row when they take on Wolfsburg at the Allianz Arena on Saturday and keep the pressure on RB Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach at the top of the Bundesliga table.
Wolfsburg are just six points behind Bayern and have enjoyed a solid season, boasting the best defensive record in the division so far.
Match preview
© ReutersBayern Munich have hit form after a mixed start to the season that saw them slip behind Leipzig and Gladbach in the Bundesliga title race, winning their last three games across all competitions by an aggregate score of 12-3.
The defending champions have clawed their deficit back to just four points and will be keen to keep the pressure on by winning again when Wolfsburg visit.
Hansi Flick's side are the second-highest scorers in the division, with 44 strikes from just 16 games, but their defensive record is poorer than they would like - the joint-worst tally of any side in the top eight.
The 3-1 victory over Freiburg in their last outing was the third game in a row in all competitions in which they have hit at least three goals, but they may find it difficult to extend that run against Wolfsburg.
Oliver Glasner's side are a well-drilled outfit and have the best defensive record in the Bundesliga, conceding just 16 league goals so far this season. They have also conceded more than once in a league game on only three occasions this campaign.
However, their defensive solidity has come at the cost of their potency in attack, with just 18 goals from 16 Bundesliga games - only second-bottom Fortuna Dusseldorf have fewer in the league.
Wolfsburg have tailed off badly after going unbeaten in their first nine Bundesliga games, losing four and winning just two of their last seven.
However, their last two results have shown improvement, beating title-chasing Gladbach 2-1 and drawing 1-1 with Schalke.
Bayern Munich Bundesliga form: WWLLWW
Bayern Munich form (all competitions): WLLWWW
Wolfsburg Bundesliga form: LWLLWD
Wolfsburg form (all competitions): WLLWWD
Team News
© ReutersBayern interim boss Flick is plagued by an ever-increasing list of absences, particularly in midfield and defence, and is without a number of players for this clash.
Defenders Lucas Hernandez and Niklas Sule are both sidelined with long-term injuries, while midfielders Corentin Tolisso, Leon Goretzka and Mickael Cuisance are all struggling with injury and are unlikely to feature either, while Thiago is suspended.
Further forward, Kingsley Coman is also out of action, alongside young striker Fiete Arp.
Wolfsburg manager Glasner's list is considerably shorter than his Bayern counterpart's, however.
Ismail Azzaoui, Niklas Klinger and Ignacio Camacho are all out, while Admir Mehmedi is a doubt.
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Pavard, Martinez, Alaba, Davies; Muller, Kimmich, Coutinho; Gnabry, Lewandowski, Perisic
Wolfsburg possible starting lineup:
Casteels; Mbabu, Tisserand, Brooks, Roussillon; Guilavogui; Victor, Arnold, Schlager, Brekalo; Weghorst
We say: Bayern Munich 2-1 Wolfsburg
Bayern Munich should not be expecting an easy game against a strong Wolfsburg side that are solid at the back, but the defending champions could just triumph in a close-run affair at home.
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