Preview: Bayern Munich look to rebound in Berlin

Bayern Munich hope to put all the mid-week drama of a horrific 0-3 loss to Paris Saint-Germain and Carlo Ancelotti’s ouster behind them. Willy Sagnol will be on the sidelines thus Sunday in Berlin, as Bayern visit a struggling Hertha.

No surprises: time to win

As on Wednesday, the entire team is healthy with the exception of Manuel Neuer and Juan Bernat. The lineup fielded against Berlin should not contain any stunning inclusions or omissions. The players we can expect to see will read like a list of those discontented with their ex-manager.

On defense, Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng will start between David Alaba and Joshua Kimmich. Both Bayern stalwarts were benched against PSG in favor of Javi Martinez and Niklas Süle.

How Sagnol structures the rest of the lineup admits of greater possibilities. Here is one potential lineup:

Ulreich; Alaba, Hummels, Boateng, Kimmich; Rudy, Tolisso; Ribery, Müller, Robben; Lewandowski

The team will almost certainly line up in the 4-2-3-1 we all know and love. Thiago and Vidal both played the full 90 minutes against Paris, so Rudy and Tolisso (who each played a half) may man the double pivot instead. On offense, Ribery and Robben should also start. Ribery was not featured at all against Paris, while Robben played just over 20 minutes. Müller also should start again. Kingsley Coman would probably be the first man off the bench, while James Rodriguez may also enter the fray off the bench.

All the cards are in Bayern's favor, and the team will collectively want to make a demonstration of strength after the events of this week.

Berlin bunkered in the Olympiastadion

Hertha Berlin has little going its way. The team just embarrassed itself internationally in a 0-1 loss to Swedish team Östersunds, following a 0-1 loss to Bundesliga lightweight Mainz.

As if those results were not enough, Hertha's star striker and captain Vedad Ibisevic will be serving a two-game red-card suspension for insulting a referee; and neither Davie Selke (transfer from RB Leipzig) nor Julian Schieber are fit, leaving Hertha with no center-forwards. Oh, and key center-back Sebastian Langkamp has been sidelined by a problem in his calf.

Fortunately for Hertha, Mathew Leckie, who has scored 4 of their 6 goals, is feeling fine. His partner on Hertha's left wing, Salomon Kalou may be forced to play in the center, unless Alexander Esswein attempts to fill the void instead. Esswein performed well at striker in Hertha's 1:1 draw against Hoffenheim, but given his performance against Östersund, he may be out of favor.

Here is how Hertha may line up:

Jarstein; Plattenhardt, Rekik, Stark, Weiser; Skjelbred, Duda, Darida; Kalou, Esswein, Leckie

Bayern fans will undoubtedly be watching to see how wayward son Mitchell Weiser performs on the right wing. Hertha remain unbeaten at home this season, but that streak should come to a swift end on Sunday.