Preussen Munster vs Bayern Munich

Preussen Munster and Bayern Munich lock horns in a lopsided DFB-Pokal round-one showdown at the Preussenstadion.

Preussen Munster have experienced a rollercoaster start to life in 3. Liga, racking up just two wins in seven league matches (D2, L3) after earning third-tier promotion last season. But if it’s any consolation, they’ve enjoyed a slight upturn in form going into this blockbuster clash, going from back-to-back league defeats to two consecutive games without losing (W1, D1). Low scoring has been a common theme during that four-game run, with three matches featuring under 2.5 goals. Since damage limitation will be Munster’s prime assignment in this encounter, a low-scoring contest bodes well for their bid to avoid an embarrassing result against a more heavily fancied Bayern Munich.

Speaking of embarrassments, Thomas Tuchel’s high-flyers followed up a 4-3 Champions League victory over Manchester United with a 7-0 rout of Bundesliga minnows Bochum at the weekend, maintaining a near-perfect six-game record in all competitions (W5, D1) since a 3-0 demolition at the hands of RB Leipzig in August’s DFL-Supercup showpiece. Tuchel’s men have been scoring for fun after that home fiasco, netting 2+ goals in six successive outings at an average of 3.66 per game. Moreover, they’ve won both away matches this season, noticeably scoring 2+ second-half goals, highlighting the potential for some action beyond halftime. It’s also worth mentioning they won their only previous DFB-Pokal visit to Munster, romping the lower-league strugglers 4-1 in 2014.