Seeking to move to within one point of Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich play their first top-flight game of 2024 on Friday night, when Hoffenheim visit the Allianz Arena.
Thomas Tuchel's men - who are in mourning following the death of club legend Franz Beckenbauer - recently played out a 1-1 friendly draw with Basel as they gear up for the return of competitive football, while their visitors were beaten 1-0 by Augsburg in an exhibition match.
With the league leaders - who have played a game more - not back in action until Saturday, though, Bayern can pile the pressure on their unexpected title rivals by marching to a third successive Bundesliga win on Friday night, having battled past Stuttgart and Wolfsburg in their final contests of 2023.
As a means of maintaining fitness levels during the winter break, Bayern were in friendly action against Swiss powerhouses Basel on January 6, where Tuchel's men fell behind to Juan Gauto's finish before 18-year-old midfielder Noel Aseko levelled matters off the bench.
However, for Aseko, Tuchel and many others associated with the Bavarian giants, on-field endeavours will not take precedence this weekend as the club mourn iconic player and manger Beckenbauer, whose death at the age of 78 over the weekend sparked an outpouring of tributes from across the globe.
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