Bayern Munich vs. Hannover: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview
Bayern Munich are starting to find their form early in the 2014-15 Bundesliga season, and a visit from Hannover 96 will give Pep Guardiola and his troops the perfect opportunity to test where they stand with important fixtures against AS Roma and Borussia Monchengladbach right around the corner.
Hannover currently sit in sixth position and have enjoyed a fine start to the season, but a modest scoring record means Die Roten could be in for a long afternoon at the Allianz Arena.
The Bavarians have yet to lose a single match this season, and with 11 goals scored and just two conceded in six league matches, per WhoScored.com, it looks like the Bundesliga title is once again theirs to lose.
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
Date: Saturday, October 4
Time: 2.30 p.m. BST/9:30 a.m. ET
Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich
TV info and live stream: The match will be broadcast by GolTV (for US viewers), with mobile coverage available via KlowdTV (subscription required) and My German TV (subscription required).
Preview
Judging by their 10 points out of the first six matches, Hannover look like a formidable foe for title-favourites Bayern. The reality is a little different, however. Die Roten have scored just five goals and conceded four in that stretch, and they've yet to find the back of the net away from home, via WhoScored.
The top of the current Bundesliga standings, via the league's official Twitter feed:
Hannover were given a relatively easy start to the season, especially after Schalke 04 came stumbling out of the starting blocks. After Bayern, 96 will play Monchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund—chances are they won't be anywhere near the European places by the time November comes around.
Scoring is the main issue for the visitors, who saw plenty of firepower leave the club during the summer window. Spanish striker Joselu was brought in to help offset the loss of Mame Diouf, and he'll be the main danger man on Saturday.
Their offensive threat will be limited, however, and Philip Lahm told Bild (h/t to Goal's Matthew Rogerson) he wants Bayern to be ruthless moving forward:
"We have to look to finish more often. Even though we had many good options available [against CSKA] we had to wait until the end.
This has concerned us now for a couple of weeks, that we do not close the game early.
"
Franck Ribery and Bastian Schweinsteiger are unlikely to feature, according to Rogerson, while Hannover will be without Danish midfielder Leon Andreasen. Marcelo will also be suspended.
Bayern Munich have a six-match win streak over 96, but as shared by Bavarian Tweets, the visitors have snapped one of the club's most impressive unbeaten streaks in the past, and they'd love to repeat those heroics on Saturday:
The UEFA Champions League trip to Moscow will have its effect on the hosts, who may decide to rest a handful of starters with an eye on the schedule. Werder Bremen shouldn't present much of a challenge, but that match will be followed by two of the biggest of the season against Roma and Monchengladbach.
Coupled with a likely defensive tactical plan for Hannover, the fatigue from the midweek fixture and the absence of one or two key starters could open the door for the visitors to steal a point.
It's unlikely, however. Bayern are just too dominant and haven't conceded a single goal since August. At the mighty fortress that is the Allianz Arena, the Bavarians should cruise to another easy win.
Prediction: Bayern Munich 3-0 Hannover 96
