Nagelsmann out with Covid-19, but Bayern hope for a home full house

BERLIN: Bayern Munich hope for full stands at the Allianz Arena for the first time in more than 18 months when the Bundesliga leaders host Hoffenheim on Saturday with head coach Julian Nagelsmann again sidelined by Covid-19.

The relaxing of regulations in Bavaria means that for the first time since the pandemic hit Germany in March 2020, Bayern could welcome a sell-out home crowd of 75,000.

Tickets are however still available and supporters need to be fully vaccinated or show a negative Covid-19 test result.

“The boys are really happy to be able to play in an emotionally charged Allianz Arena again, that gives them extra motivation,” said Bayern president Herbert Hainer this week. “The excitement within the team for full stands is huge - as it is in the whole club.”

However, Nagelsmann, also missed Wednesday’s 4-0 win at Benfica. The 34-year-old is isolating at home after testing positive for coronavirus despite being fully vaccinated and could be away for up to two weeks.

In his absence, assistant coaches Xaver Zembrod and Dino Toppmoeller will be passing on his instructions.

“It’s not like that when Julian isn’t there, I’ll be the boss and make my own decisions,” said Toppmoeller, who stepped in for Nagelsmann in Lisbon during the half-time team talk and postmatch interviews.

Nagelsmann will be deciding tactics and substitutions via a radio link. “You don’t make changes yourself there,” Toppmoeller confirmed.

Bayern responded to losing 21 at home to Frankfurt in early Oct - their first home Bundesliga defeat for nearly two years - by flooring Leverkusen 5-1 in the Bundesliga before thrashing Benfica in Europe. Hoffenheim have tripped Bayern up twice in recent seasons, a 4-1 thrashing in in Sept 2020 and a 2-1 win in Oct 2019.