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Bayern Munich’s home game with Augsburg on Friday kicks off a crucial run of games for the German giants, who are struggling under the weight of injuries in key positions.

After Friday’s match, Bayern host Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday, before a trip to Borussia Dortmund and a German Cup tie with Bayer Leverkusen.

Bayern can take an eight-point lead with a win over Bavarian neighbors Augsburg, which has yet to win this season.

But Bayern will have to do this by missing a number of players and putting big question marks in key positions.

The club announced this week that Joao Palhinha, along with fellow defender Aleksandar Pavlovic, was on the club’s long-term injured list.

Palhinha joined from Premier League side Fulham this summer, having been signed specifically to address a weakness in the position.

Bayern coach Vincent Kompany appears ready to deal with the out-of-form Leon Goretzka, who has only started once this season, slotting him alongside Joshua Kimmich.

On Thursday, Kompany revealed that captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was doubtful “with a rib problem”.

“It’s still a bit early,” Kompany said of Neuer’s chances. “We hope that he can still start tomorrow. We have to wait and see how things go in training.”

With long-term back-up Sven Ulreich missing “for personal reasons”, third-choice goalkeeper Daniel Peretz, fresh from two clean sheets for Israel, could get his first Bundesliga start.

“We assume that ‘Manu’ can be there. If not, Daniel Peretz will play tomorrow. We have no doubts about him; he has been very good with the national team.”

Teenage striker Mathys Tel will also miss Friday’s match due to an injury sustained while on international duty, putting more weight on Harry Kane’s shoulders.

Defenders Hiroki Ito and Josip Stanisic, both of whom have yet to play this season, are still weeks away from returning.

However, the failure of Bayern’s rivals will allow them to breathe a little easier, at least in the league.

Nearest challengers RB Leipzig have fallen off the pace after losing five points in their past two games, while defending champions Leverkusen are already nine points behind Bayern.

After just ten games, Xabi Alonso’s team has dropped thirteen points this season, one more than during the entire previous season.

Dortmund, second in the Champions League last season, is languishing in seventh place.

As deep as Leverkusen’s struggles have gone this season, they have had no impact on star midfielder Florian Wirtz.

The 21-year-old continues to shine for club and country, leading to rumors that this season could be his last in Leverkusen with the likes of Bayern and Real Madrid.

Wirtz’s seven goals and two assists in all competitions belie the true influence of a player who can just as comfortably drop deep to start an attacking attack as he can take care of business up front.

In Tuesday’s 1-1 draw against Hungary in Budapest, Wirtz came off the bench to kick in a corner that led to Germany’s opener. He also picked up a yellow card and will miss the first leg of the Nations League quarter-final.

“I shouted at him… it was stupid,” teammate Jamal Musiala said afterwards.

1 – Bayern Munich are the only undefeated team still in the Bundesliga after ten games, while last-placed Bochum are the only team to have won.

5 and 7 – RB Leipzig have conceded just five goals in the league this season, the best in the league, while keeping seven clean sheets.

2 of 10 – Hoffenheim, who fired coach Pellegrino Matarazzo during the international break, has won only two of ten league games this season. Those wins came against the lowly duo of Bochum and Holstein Kiel.

Fixtures (1430 GMT unless otherwise stated)

Friday

Bayern Munich v Augsburg (1930)

Saturday

Borussia Dortmund v Freiburg, Wolfsburg v Union Berlin, Bayer Leverkusen v Heidenheim, Stuttgart v Bochum, Hoffenheim v RB Leipzig, Eintracht Frankfurt v Werder Bremen (1730)

Sunday

Holstein Kiel v Mainz, Borussia Mönchengladbach v St Pauli (1630)

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