Hoffenheim's two-pronged hope of stopping Bayern

The record champions’ opening three matches have been ominous for the rest of the division.

A 6-0 opening day win over RB Leipzig was followed by a more hard-fought 3-2 triumph over Augsburg.

It was back to Bayern at their best on Matchday 3, though, when Hamburg suffered a humbling 5-0 defeat at the Allianz Arena.

Harry Kane, Luis Díaz and Michael Olise are in fine form, but Hoffenheim can also call on a pair of threatening forwards to cause Bayern problems.

Christian Ilzer’s side have won two of their opening three matches in the league themselves, and both Fisnik Asllani and the irreplaceable Andrej Kramarić have been key components of the side.

Kramarić really requires no introduction. The Croatia international is Hoffenheim’s record goalscorer with 144 goals, 127 of which have come in the Bundesliga – Robert Lewandowski, Claudio Pizarro and Giovane Élber are the only three non-Germans to have been more prolific in the top flight.

He is also the highest-scoring player still plying their trade in the Bundesliga.

One of those strikes came this season in Hoffenheim’s 4-2 win at Union Berlin, and Kramarić will no doubt relish playing Bayern. Few players have been a regular thorn in the Munich club’s side, but the 34-year-old is one of them.

Kramarić has found the back of the net no fewer than eight times against Bayern, only managing more against three other clubs.

In fact, there are only 12 players in Bundesliga history who have found the back of the net on more occasions against the German juggernauts than Kramarić – quite the stat considering he was already 24 when he joined Hoffenheim.

Watch: All Kramarić's goals against Bayern

Three of those eight efforts came in one match, a 4-2 triumph over Bayern on the final day of the 2023/24 campaign, while he also has a brace to his name.

Given his apparent enthusiasm for facing the six-time UEFA Champions League winners, it is perhaps no surprise that they tried to sign Kramarić several times in the past.

“I almost joined Bayern three times,” he said in 2023, 12 months before that aforementioned hat-trick. “Once it was almost over. I thought everything was settled and done, that I was going to Bayern, but in the end, it didn't happen.”

He will no doubt be eager to show Bayern what they have been missing once more on Matchday 4, and Asllani will be the prime candidate to help him.

The 23-year-old has made just 12 Bundesliga appearances in his still-young career, but what he lacks in experience he more than makes up for with obvious talent.

Watch: Hoffenheim 4-2 Bayern Munich, 2023/24 - highlights

After joining Hoffenheim following a prolific youth career with Union, Asllani first attracted wider attention when he was sent on loan to Elversberg last term.

It was only the club’s second-ever Bundesliga 2 campaign, yet Asllani’s 18 goals and seven assists almost fired him and his teammates to the elite – Heidenheim ultimately denied them in the relegation play-off.

Hoffenheim have struggled to find a consistent partner for Kramarić up front, but early signs suggest Asllani may be that man.

So far, he has four goals in four games across all competitions, including two against his former club Union.

His large frame, deadly touch in the final third and ability to bring others into play make him a nightmare to play against, as Germany’s top flight is finding out.

His form at Elversberg convinced Hoffenheim to give him a new long-term contract in July, and managing director Andreas Schicker was quick to praise his club’s big hope.

“Fisnik is a highly talented striker who more than just hinted at his potential during his loan spell. His goals and assists speak for themselves. We’re absolutely convinced that he will take the next steps in his career with us and that he will bring us all a great deal of joy in the future.”

Watch: Fisnik's on fire

Nothing he or the rest of the Hoffenheim hierarchy have seen so far will make them think otherwise. He is yet to face Bayern in a competitive encounter, but their visit will provide the Kosovo man with a fantastic opportunity to prove his credentials further.

And should he have any doubts, he will only need to look to Kramarić to see how Bayern can be hurt.