Bayern Munich have already won the Bundesliga title this season. With three games remaining, their focus is now on sending out two legends in style. That challenge begins on Saturday, when Bayern hosts Darmstadt at the Allianz Arena.
Bayern Munich sealed their title as Bundesliga champions last week with a win at Wolfsburg. The fifth-straight title win set a Bundesliga record for most consecutive Bundesliga titles.
Now, with only three games remaining in the season, Bayern Munich can relax and focus on sending out Xabi Alonso and Philipp Lahm in style.
After last week's Championship we are back at Allianz Arena tomorrow! With 3 games left I’m especially looking forward to the two at home 👍🏼 pic.twitter.com/294PfSaC9r
— Philipp Lahm (@philipplahm) May 5, 2017
They should be able to do with ease as well. Of their past 10 matches against Darmstadt, Bayern Munich have not lost any of them.
Team News
Mr. Ancelotti revealed much about the team in his press conference today. A small amount of first-team players are out ahead of the Bundesliga clash.
Manuel Neuer, of course, is still missing with a foot injury, while both Javi Martinez and Kingsley Coman will be missing from this one as well.
Other than those players, the rest of the squad is fit and available, including new fathers Thiago Alcantara and Robert Lewandowski.
💬 @MrAncelotti: "@Thiago6 and @lewy_official are both available. We're very happy to have two new fathers in the team." #FCBD98 pic.twitter.com/rReT6Btnwk
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) May 5, 2017
Predicted XI
In his press conference, Ancelotti not only mentioned players who will be missing but also players who will be starting tomorrow. The young talents, Renato Sanches and Joshua Kimmich will make up the majority of the midfield.
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Although Lewandowski and Thiago are both available, expect Mr. Ancelotti to give at least one of them a rest. The likely scenario is that Lewandowski gets the nod and Thiago sits, but Ancelotti could opt to play Muller at striker and have Thiago at the number 10 spot.
Expect Douglas Costa to get some minutes after missing out on the majority of Bayern’s past several matches (even if he is likely on his way out this summer).
Similarly, although Mats Hummels is technically available, he might miss the majority of this one. The starting line-up will likely appear something like this:
Lewandowski
Costa – Muller – Robben
Sanches – Kimmich
Bernat – Alaba – Boateng – Lahm
Ulreich
Opposition Focus
Darmstadt are at the very bottom of the Bundesliga table–and by a long shot. Five points separate them from 17th-placed Ingolstadt.
A loss in Munich would seal their fate, guaranteeing they get relegated back to the second division.
However, this does not mean that they will roll over. The past two matches between Bayern and Darmstadt have ended 1-0 with the Bundesliga minnows giving an impressive showing for themselves.
But a reinvigorated Bayern side with nothing to lose may be too much for the Darmstadt side to handle this time out.
Prediction
Bayern Munich 4-0 Darmstadt