World Football
HomeScoresTransfer RumorsUSWNTUSMNTPremier LeagueChampions LeagueLa LigaSerie ABundesligaMLSFIFA Club World Cup
Featured Video
Mbappé's Rollercoaster Season 🎢
Kim Jin-su of Hoffenheim, right, challenges for the ball with Munich's Arjen Robben during the Germany Soccer Bundesliga match between TSG Hoffenheim and Bayern Munich in Sinsheim, southern Germany, Saturday Aug. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Daniel Maurer)
Kim Jin-su of Hoffenheim, right, challenges for the ball with Munich's Arjen Robben during the Germany Soccer Bundesliga match between TSG Hoffenheim and Bayern Munich in Sinsheim, southern Germany, Saturday Aug. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Daniel Maurer)Daniel Maurer/Associated Press

Bayern Munich vs. Hoffenheim: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info

Clark WhitneyJan 29, 2016

Bayern Munich play their first home game of the 2016 calendar year on Sunday as they take on Hoffenheim in round 19 of the Bundesliga.

The league leaders overcame Hamburg last weekend to claim a 2-1 win in their return to competitive play following the winter break, but the result came at a hefty price: Center-back Jerome Boateng sustained an injury that is expected to see him sidelined for almost the full remainder of the season.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday (via ESPN), captain Philipp Lahm described the Germany international's loss as "bitter" and "painful." But Pep Guardiola was somewhat more optimistic in the immediate aftermath of the defender's injury, saying (via the National): "If we lose Jerome Boateng for a long time, we'll still field 11 players."

TOP NEWS

Real Madrid CF v Girona FC - LaLiga EA Sports

Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲

Real Betis V Real Madrid - Laliga Ea Sports

'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳

Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩

Bayern will face in Hoffenheim a side with some strong players but one that has struggled to live up to its potential this season. Their goal difference of -8 is level with that of 12th-placed Darmstadt, but the village club are joint last in the table with just 14 points.

Earlier this season, Hoffe took the lead against Bayern through Kevin Volland in the opening seconds, yet despite being reduced to 10 men, Bayern managed to claw their way back and snatch three points at the death thanks to a timely goal by Robert Lewandowski.

After facing a tough fight against Hoffe earlier this season, Bayern will be wary of the danger their relegation-battling foes will face. And the visitors will enter the match with nothing to lose, setting the stage for an entertaining day of football.

Date: Sunday, January 31

Time: 5:30 p.m. GMT/12:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. local time

Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich

TV Info: Fox Soccer Plus (U.S. only), BT Sport Europe (UK only, on time delay starting at 6:15 p.m.)

Live Stream: Fox Soccer 2Go (U.S. only), Not available (UK only)

Form Guide

Bayern MunichHoffenheim
Hamburg: Win Leverkusen: Draw
Karlsruhe: Loss Sturm Graz: Win
Hannover: Win Platinum Stars: Win
Darmstadt: Win Sonnenhof Grossaspach: Draw
Ingolstadt: Win Schalke: Loss

Predicted Lineups

Bayern Munich

Boateng's injury means the defender will join fellow long-term casualties Franck Ribery, Mario Gotze and Mehdi Benatia in the stands. Saturday is also likely to come too early for Rafinha and Sven Ulreich to have a spot on the bench.

Possible Bayern Munich starting XI: Neuer; Lahm, Martinez, Badstuber, Alaba; Alonso, Thiago; Coman, Muller, Costa; Lewandowski

Hoffenheim

Hoffenheim have a nearly full squad on hand to take on Bayern, with Kai Herdling the only expected absentee.

Possible Hoffenheim starting XI: Baumann; Kaderabek, Schar, Sule, Kim; Strobl, Hamad, Rudy; Volland, Vargas, Schmid

Bayern Munich's Polish forward Robert Lewandowski (R) celebrates after he scored the winning goal during the German first division Bundesliga football match 1899 Hoffenheim vs FC Bayern Munich, on August 22, 2015 in Sinsheim, southwestern Germany. Bayern

Players to Watch

Bayern will need to play aggressively to keep pressure off their now rather fragile center-backs, and all of their attackers will be worth a look during Sunday's action. From the supremely quick Kinglsey Coman to the mesmerizing dribbler Douglas Costa to deadly finishers Lewandowski and Thomas Muller, Bayern have a devastating array of options up front.

Hoffenheim will likely spend much of the match defending, and the performance of center-backs Fabian Schar and Niklas Sule will be critical. On the other hand, when they do get the ball, Volland is the man to watch; the Germany international has good technique and can be clinical in front of goal.

Key Battles

Robert Lewandowski vs. Niklas Sule

Lewandowski was Bayern's trump card when Bayern last faced Hoffenheim, turning home a last-gasp winner. And he could well be the decisive factor again this Saturday; the Poland international was in brilliant form throughout the fall campaign and emerged, according to many accounts, as the world's best striker.

Despite Hoffenheim's woeful form, Sule is regarded as one of Germany's brightest prospects in central defense. A torn cruciate ligament set him back in his development, but the towering defender has strength, size and skill in the tackle. He'll need to have a great game to keep Lewandowski quiet, though. 

Hoffenheim's Polish midfielder Eugen Polanski (L) celebrates after teammate midfielder Kevin Volland (R) scored in the first minute during the German first division Bundesliga football match 1899 Hoffenheim vs FC Bayern Munich, on August 22, 2015 in Sinsh

Kevin Volland vs. Holger Badstuber

Volland put Hoffe ahead of Bayern in August, and if the village side are to score in Sunday's match, he'll more likely than not have a role in the goal. The 23-year-old has become a figurehead at his club and will be looked towards for inspiration in a very difficult fixture.

Although Volland will roam around the attack, Badstuber will more probably come up against him more than any other Bayern defender. The center-back has spent much of the last three years and counting injured, and much will be expected from him with Boateng absent. Sunday's match will be a good test of his preparedness for the tough games to come.

Odds (courtesy of Odds Shark)

Bayern: 4/35

Draw: 19/2

Hoffenheim: 24/1

Mbappé's Rollercoaster Season 🎢

TOP NEWS

Real Madrid CF v Girona FC - LaLiga EA Sports

Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲

Real Betis V Real Madrid - Laliga Ea Sports

'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳

Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩

United States v Japan - International Friendly

Pulisic on 'Time' Cover 📸

FIFA World Cup 2026 Venues - New York New Jersey Stadium

NJ transit to reduce World Cup train ticket prices

New 2026 NBA Mock Draft 🔮
Bleacher Report6d

New 2026 NBA Mock Draft 🔮

Projecting who Charlotte would select with a top pick 📲

TRENDING ON B/R