Renato Sanches is in line to continue his run in the side when Bayern Munich travel to Hertha Berlin on Friday night (kick-off: 8:30pm CEST/7:30pm BST/2:30pm ET).
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Hertha suffered their first loss of the season on Tuesday when they were beaten 3-1 at Werder Bremen, but remain just three points off their upcoming opponents. Summer signing from Manchester City Javairo Dilrosun was again on target for the Old Lady, but Bundesliga top scorer Ondrej Duda’s three-match scoring run came to an end. The capital club have also been forced into a change in goal with first-choice Rune Jarstein going off at half-time in Bremen with a bruised leg. It means former Bayern man Thomas Kraft should deputise as he did on Tuesday.
Bayern’s 1-1 draw with Augsburg earlier this week was the first time they’ve failed to win in eight matches under Niko Kovac. Midfielder Sanches has impressed in recent weeks with his dynamism and looks to have secured his place in the champions’ team. James Rodriguez and Robert Lewandowski were both unused substitutes on Tuesday, so appear certainties to start in Berlin. Leon Goretzka started the draw at left-back, but was taken off at half-time with a reported knock, while the rotation of centre-backs will likely continue between Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels and Niklas Süle after the latter pair started against Augsburg.
Probable line-ups
Hertha: Kraft – Lazaro, Stark, Rekik, Plattenhardt – Maier, Skjelbred – Kalou, Duda, Dilrosun – Ibisevic (c)Absentees: Grujic (ankle), Kurt (not considered), Torunarigha (Achilles)Coach: Pal Dardai
Bayern: Neuer (c) – Kimmich, Boateng, Hummels, Alaba – Thiago, Sanches – James, Müller, Ribery – LewandowskiAbsentees: Coman (ankle), Rafinha (ankle), Tolisso (knee)Coach: Niko Kovac
Match stats
The Berliners are the only Bundesliga club not to have lost a single one of their last three Bundesliga games against Bayern (three draws). That said, they are winless in 14 meetings with Bayern (11 defeats).
Hertha's Salomon Kalou has faced Bayern 10 times so far in his career, scoring twice. His only win came in the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League final in Munich, with Chelsea.
Hertha have conceded a penalty in their last five games – a Bundesliga record.
Sanches made his first Bundesliga start in almost 18 months against Augsburg.
Lewandowski is Bayern's top scorer so far this season with three goals - the same number as Hertha counterpart Vedad Ibisevic.
Kovac enjoyed two spells with Hertha as a player (1991-96 & 2003-06). He played 34 Bundesliga matches alongside current Berlin coach Pal Dardai.