Hamburg vs Bayern: Can Hamburg stop league leaders?

Hamburg will host Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich at the Volksparkstadion. The promoted side, Hamburg, are currently fighting to avoid relegation, while the defending champions, Bayern Munich, aim to get back on track after suffering their first league defeat of the current season. Hamburg's head coach, Merlin Polzin, is dealing with a significant number of unavailable attacking players. Norwegian winger Alexander Rossing‑Lelesiit is expected to be out for an extended period, and Yussuf Poulsen is also sidelined. This lack of offensive options places creative pressure on Fábio Vieira and Rayan Philippe. Bayern Munich, conversely, has received a boost with the return of key players. Jamal Musiala has made a successful comeback, scoring in a recent Champions League match. Defenders Raphaël Guerreiro and Josip Stanišić have also recovered from their respective injuries and are available for selection. Hamburg has experienced a difficult spell since their promotion, currently enduring a five-match winless run in the Bundesliga. They sit in 14th place with 18 points. Bayern Munich's surprising 2-1 home loss to FC Augsburg ended a 27-match unbeaten streak. However, they recently secured second place in their Champions League group. Away from home, Bayern has been remarkably strong, securing 25 out of a possible 27 points and scoring at least two goals in their last 13 away league games.