Harry Kane is about to return to the Bayern Munich group earlier than the Bundesliga leaders host RB Leipzig on Friday realizing something however a win might imply they’ve little to point out for a powerful begin below new coach Vincent Kompany. Bayern fell to their first league lack of the season 2-1 at Mainz final weekend and at the moment are simply 4 factors away from defending champions Bayer Leverkusen. Kane’s return is sweet information for Munich, who’ve missed the England captain’s creativity and objectives. He had 20 objectives and 9 assists in 19 video games in all competitions earlier than tearing his hamstring in November.
“I’m not going to say whether or not he’ll begin the match or not, the final coaching session (Thursday) is necessary,” mentioned Kompany.
“But if the whole lot goes properly, he will certainly have a job to play tomorrow (Friday).
“Harry has this science of positioning near the penalty space. He additionally helped us quite a bit in defensive work. He’s top-of-the-line on the planet within the field — that is the place he makes the distinction. There aren’t many gamers who can try this.”
Jamal Musiala has stepped up in Kane’s absence, with 4 objectives and an help in all competitions, however the 21-year-old can’t be anticipated to shoulder the load alone.
“It’s all the time robust,” Musiala mentioned of Leipzig, including “we have had finals towards them earlier than and it is undoubtedly a giant recreation — we misplaced towards them final season.”
Musiala’s 13 objectives and 5 assists in all competitions ranks simply behind Kane, exhibiting how necessary the Germany-born, England-raised midfielder is for Bayern.
Musiala, who switched worldwide allegiances from England to Germany simply after transferring to Bayern, credit Kompany for serving to him “go up a stage this season”.
Struggling to kick their title hangover early within the season, Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen have hit type, with seven straight wins in all competitions together with knocking Bayern out of the German Cup final 16 in Munich.
A win will guarantee a four-point buffer throughout the winter break. But Leipzig, who sit six factors behind Bayern in fourth, have had the benefit over the German giants currently.
Bayern have received simply considered one of their previous 5 video games towards Leipzig, together with two defeats in Munich.
Leverkusen face this season’s quiet achievers Freiburg, who sit in fifth place forward of Champions League sides Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund.
Third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt are winless in 4 after a blistering begin to the season, however will look to get again on observe towards derby rivals Mainz.
One to look at: Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund)A yr and a half after arriving as Jude Bellingham’s substitute, Felix Nmecha has established himself within the coronary heart of Borussia Dortmund’s midfield.
After an injury-hit first yr on the Westfalenstadion, the place some requested if Dortmund had overpaid for the Hamburg-born, Manchester City academy product, Nmecha has emerged as the right hyperlink between defence and assault.
Calm on the ball and a aim menace, Nmecha’s type has been rewarded with a return to Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany squad.
The 24-year-old takes on his former membership Wolfsburg on Sunday, with eight-placed Dortmund only one level above their bottom-half-of-the-table opponents.
Key stats15 – Twelfth-placed Union Berlin have conceded 15 objectives in 14 video games. Only league leaders Bayern Munich, with 12, have conceded fewer.
One in 18 – Wolfsburg have received simply considered one of their previous 18 league video games towards Borussia Dortmund courting again to 2015.
0 – Rock-bottom Bochum are the one facet but to win a recreation this season.
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