Bayern Munich took care of business in the Champions League with their comprehensive 5-1 win over SL Benfica, but now it’s time to turn their fortunes around in the Bundesliga, where they haven’t won since the end of October against Mainz. This weekend Bayern travels to the Weserstadion to take on Werder Bremen, which finds itself just three points behind Bayern in the table after they’d made an impressive start to the season.

With Borussia Dortmund running away from their chasers at the top of the table, Bayern cannot afford to have any more slip-ups if it wants to try and keep pace with its rivals. Conceding late and lazy goals has been an Achilles heel for Bayern and Niko Kovac has stressed the importance of playing out the entire 90 minutes without any lapses in concentration during his training sessions this week.

Team News:

• BOTH Kingsley Coman and Thiago Alcantara are back from injury and will be available for selection, but Kovac said neither would play 90 minutes, understandably.
• Kovac said he’s found go-to a lineup he “trust,” perhaps alluding to the fact that we may see the same starting XI that we saw vs. Benfica
• Mats Hummels is still suffering from a stomach illness, so he did not part take in the squad’s final training session and did not travel with the team.
• Serge Gnabry also makes his return from an adductor problem and will be available.
• Per Bild, Arjen Robben cut the last training session early due to a knee problem, but still traveled with the squad.

Nice to have ya back, King:

Here are three predictions from BFW staff members as to how Kovac will lineup his Bayern side at the Weserstadion:

Ineednoname:

Lineup Builder

Kimmich in the midfield has worked before for both Bayern and Germany, so why not try it against Bremen? Wherever you play him, his going to give his all!

Chuck Smith:

Lineup Builder

Did someone say Thiagoretzka??? Also, I’m loving Chuck’s confidence of having Coman straight back into the starting lineup. Sure, he definitely won’t play a full 90 minutes but the pace on the flanks with Coman and Gnabry would be unreal - I’ll take that!

Schnitzel01:

Lineup Builder

Unlike INNN’s lineup, Schnitzel is showing faith in Robben’s fitness despite cutting the last training session early. Leaving the session early could very well just have been a precaution and we’d love to see another performance like the one against Benfica from the Dutchman, that’s for certain.