Bayern Munich can move top of the Bundesliga table - even if only for 24 hours - by gaining a positive result away to Hertha Berlin on Saturday.
The hosts, meanwhile, are aiming to avoid a sixth successive defeat against the reigning champions.
Match preview
© Reuters
Indeed, as is the case for most German teams, facing Bayern has not been an enjoyable fixture for Hertha in recent seasons, having last beaten the Bavarians in September 2018.
Given that Die Alte Dame have routinely been fighting against relegation while Bayern have extended their title winning streak during that timeframe, it is perhaps unsurprising that they have struggled to compete when coming directly up against them.
However, despite heading into the weekend only two points and two positions above the bottom three, Hertha are clearly a more solid defensive unit under their new boss Sandro Schwarz, with only five teams in the division boasting a better goals against record than them after 12 matches.
On the flipside, though, only the bottom two sides have scored fewer goals than Schwarz's side, with Hertha blanking once again in a 1-0 defeat away to Werder Bremen last time out as Niclas Fullkrug's 85th-minute strike condemned them to their fifth league defeat of the season.
Finding the right balance against Bayern on Saturday will clearly be an extremely tough challenge, with Schwarz likely to focus his team's attentions on stopping their dangerous opponents first and foremost, before attempting to transition as quickly as possible whenever suitable moments to do so arise.
© Reuters
Although they have not quite yet managed to hunt down league leaders Union Berlin at the top of the table - when both sides have played the same amount of games at least - Bayern have been in superb form since returning from the international break, winning nine of their 10 matches in all competitions.
The only blemish on that record was their 2-2 draw away to Borussia Dortmund last month, when BVB came from two goals behind to claim a precious point, but Julian Nagelsmann's side have responded with three straight league wins while progressing in the Champions League and DFB-Pokal.
Their 2-0 win against Inter Milan on Tuesday ensured that they finished the group stage with maximum points for the third time in four seasons, which was quite the achievement this time around considering they had been drawn alongside Barcelona, too, in what many people considered to be this campaign's 'Group of Death'.
Eric Choupo-Moting continued his fine goalscoring run with his seventh goal in six matches, having piled on the misery by scoring the sixth and final goal in last weekend's 6-2 rout of Mainz 05.
With Union Berlin and Freiburg not playing until Sunday afternoon due to their Europa League commitments, even a point in the capital would be enough to see Bayern move top due to their superior goal difference, but anything short of returning to Munich with all three would be considered a huge disappointment.
Team News
© Reuters
Hertha look set to be without Stevan Jovetic on Saturday, after the former Manchester City forward was withdrawn during the first half of last weekend's defeat in Bremen due to a hip injury.
Rune Jarstein, Jessic Ngankam, Marton Dardai, Kelian Nsona and Linus Gechter are all expected to miss out, too, with Schwarz likely to beef up his side's engine room by bringing Jean-Paul Boetius into the side now that the 28-year-old has fully recovered from having a testicular tumour removed.
Bayern, meanwhile, will travel without Bouna Sarr as he continues his rehabilitation from a patella issue, while Manuel Neuer and Thomas Muller are both unlikely to be risked after suffering recent injuries with the World Cup looming later this month.
However, Leroy Sane and Lucas Hernandez have returned to training in the past week, and both could be eased into action from the substitutes' bench as they aim to gain some match fitness ahead of travelling with their countries to Qatar.
Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies and Serge Gnabry could all return to the starting XI having appeared from the bench against Inter in midweek, with Choupo-Moting retaining his place in attack as a just reward for his recent prolific streak in front of goal.
Hertha Berlin possible starting lineup:
Christensen; Kenny, Rogel, Kempf, Plattenhardt; Tousart, Boetius, Serdar; Lukebakio, Kanga, Richter
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Ulrich; Pavard, De Ligt, Upamecano, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Gnabry, Musiala, Mane; Choupo-Moting
We say: Hertha Berlin 0-3 Bayern Munich
We expect Bayern to cruise to victory in Berlin on Saturday, with their winning streak potentially continuing right through to breaking for the World Cup later this month.
Hertha have struggled to score goals this season and those woes look set to hurt them at the weekend, with their improving defensive record unlikely to do them too much good against such a potent opposition attack.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
