Stevens ahead of Bayern: "The boys can prove themselves"

Huub Stevens on ...

... the opposition.

They will not change much despite Jerome Boateng’s absence, especially since they have a very good replacement with Javi Martinez. They are a very strong side and in my eyes are the favourites to win the Champions League. Even if there does appear to be some unrest there at the moment, that has no influence on our preparation. They have built up a fantastic team in recent years.

... his players.

Pirmin Schwegler and Eugen Polanski will not travel with us because of muscle problems. There is still a question mark over Tarik Elyounoussi as he only trained with the team for the first time on Thursday. Andrej Kramaric is fit and is a possibility to start. At the moment it is about integrating him and the players around him adjusting to his runs and way of playing.

... the current situation I.

We will play the match with eleven players – the referee wouldn’t allow us twelve. But seriously, it is a normal game against a very strong opponent. It is a good game for the boys because they can show themselves. I have always enjoyed these games when I’ve been involved. But as far as I can remember, I never played against Bayern. And I don’t know my record as a coach. The past is not important, it’s about what happens now. And now we will try and emphasise our strengths.

... the current situation II.

We have to improve our organisation even more when we look back at the Leverkusen game. Particularly at the end of the game we gave them too much. We also have to convert our chances if we want to get something out of the game. But the rules are the same as always – the game begins at 0-0 and lasts 90 minutes. We will see what happens over the 90 minutes.

Previous encounters:

There have been 15 previous encounters in the Bundesliga. TSG’s points haul from these games is somewhat limited. You can even could them on one hand because the number is four. And from four draws. What does that mean? That there has never been a Hoffenheim win against Bayern. So far TSG have picked up just one point at the Allianz Arena – a 3-3 draw on 29th March 2014. Hoffenheim also suffered their biggest ever Bundesliga defeat in Munich – 7-1 in March 2012. 

The opposition’s form:

Bayern kicked off the second half of the season with a hard-fought 2-1 win at Hamburg. Pep Guardiola’s side were not able to replicate their sparkling play from the first half of the season just yet. And despite being in a commanding position at the top of the table, there appears to be some unrest in Munich (if you believe the magazine ‘Kicker’ and its researchers). Will that weaken Bayern out on the pitch? There’s still a question mark over that. But Jerome Boateng’s absence is definite. The precise 42-yard diagonal balls, which repeatedly hurt Hoffenheim in the first half of the season, will definitely be missing.

The key battle:

Yes, Bayern have the best squad in the league. Yes, everyone in that team is an extraordinary footballer. Yes, it would wrong to focus on individual players. But, 31 of the 48 goals in the league have come from Thomas Müller and Robert Lewandowski. No other Bayern player has scored more than three. If TSG can avoid the ball falling to Lewandowski’s feet or connecting with any part of Müller’s body in the vicinity of the Hoffenheim goal, then that would certainly help.

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