Dominant form meets dangerous underdogs! A caption well fitting for many games in the DFB-Pokal – this time, it’s for potentially the biggest David-versus-Goliath example in the first round of the German cup: Wehen Wiesbaden host Bayern Munich on Wednesday at 20:45 p.m. CET.
Respective form this far:
As reigning Bundesliga champions, Bayern Munich have hit the ground running so far. Their season opener was a spectacular 6-0 thrashing of RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, highlighted by a hat-trick from Harry Kane, alongside two goals from Michael Olise and a league debut goal from Luis Díaz.
This result followed a successful pre-season featuring wins over Tottenham and Grasshopper Zurich and a Supercup triumph over Stuttgart.
The swagger in their play, combined with the optimism after a great start to the season, suggests a team in peak rhythm under manager Vincent Kompany, who seems to get the best out of his team in his second season as headcoach.
In contrast, Wehen Wiesbaden, currently battling in the 3. Liga, approach the fixture as emboldened underdogs. Their early season form has been mixed but promising: a 4-0 win over Vitesse in the last pre-season friendly sparked a lot of hope for the team, which was followed and strengthened by a 3-1 win over newly relegated Ulm in their opening 3. Liga game.
However, Wiesbaden went on to lose said spark after a 2-2 draw versus Verl and most recently, a 3-4 loss against RW Essen – not the best time for a dip in form, just ahead of the game against Bayern Munich!
Nevertheless, Wiesbaden did consider the daunting draw against the Bavarian giants as a “Traumlos”, meaning a dream and most ideal draw, as many other lower league teams would in their position. Hosting the biggest team in Germany always draws attention to your own club!
Team news and predicted lineups:
Bayern are still missing their long-term injured players: Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies, Tom Bischof and Hiroki Itō will all be out for this matchup. If Bayern decide to take no risks for this game, they will most likely put out the lineup of their first Bundesliga game this season:
FC Bayern (4-2-3-1):
Neuer – Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Stanišić – Kimmich, Goretzka – Olise, Gnabry, Díaz – Kane
However, since Bayern also have to think ahead to their next Bundesliga game against Augsburg on Saturday, they could rotate the following players into the starting eleven: Urbig (for Neuer), Boey (for Laimer/Stanišić), Kim for Tah, Pavlović for Goretzka, Karl for Olise and Kusi-Asare for Kane.
Wiesbaden on the other hand, will surely go for their best possible lineup in order to cause a huge upset – said lineup would most likely look like this:
Wehen Wiesbaden (4-4-2):
Stritzel – Wohlers, Gillekens, Janitzek, May – Schleimer, Nejad, Gözüsirin, Johansson – Flotho, Kaya
As you may know, Bayern have a history – or even a reputation by now – of being eliminated from the DFB-Pokal in an early round:
- 2024/25: Round of 16 exit vs. Leverkusen
- 2023/24: Round of 32 exit vs. Saarbrücken
- 2022/23: Quarter-Final exit vs. Freiburg
- 2021/22: Round of 32 exit vs. Gladbach
- 2020/21: Round of 32 exit vs. Kiel
Can Wiesbaden become the latest team to eliminate Bayern Munich from the DFB-Pokal in an early round? Or will they fall victim to a Bavarian machine determined to make a statement in every competition they’re in? Find out this Wednesday!