Bayern Munich vs. TSG Hoffenheim: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview
Two teams in near-opposite veins of form will face off at the Allianz Arena on Saturday when out-of-shape Hoffenheim make the trip to take on league leaders Bayern Munich.
Markus Gisdol's side came into November yet to be beaten in Bundesliga competition, but two successive defeats have seen Hoffenheim drop to fifth, with a serious risk of suffering a third loss in a row this weekend.
Bayern's unbeaten run remains intact. However, form alone may not be enough to predetermine this result, with a match preview and viewing information detailed ahead.
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Date: Saturday, Nov. 22
Time: 2:30 p.m. GMT/9:30 a.m. ET
Live Stream: beIN Play (US, subscription required)
TV Info: beIN Sports 4 (US)
Bayern's Spotless Record at Risk
Eleven games into the 2014-15 campaign and Der FCB are yet to suffer defeat, as Pep Guardiola's march on the German elite continues but injury troubles may put that record to the test.
Bleacher Report's Stefan Bienkowski provided insight into their list of absentees, although ESPN FC found a positive in the timing of the winter break:
Captain Philipp Lahm's injury is their chief worry after the club captain fractured his ankle in training and is set to miss three months.
Hoffenheim will hope Franck Ribery's analysis of the blow is accurate after the French winger told Bild (h/t Goal.com's Stefan Coerts) just how much this will affect the champions:
"It really hurt to see Philipp lie there on the pitch and I'm really sad for him. All his team-mates and everybody at Bayern really feels for him. We are losing a very important player. He has been a great captain. He was always in great shape and always played well.
His presence in the dressing room and on the pitch is very important to the team and we will really miss that now. We lose a key player. He has to stay calm and focused, even if that isn't easy. He needs the support from his family and his team-mates. We are his family, too, and will do anything to help him.
"
Rafinha and Sebastian Rode will be expected to fill in at right-back during Lahm's absence, but his option in midfield is another missing component for Guardiola moving ahead.
Thomas Muller is also a minor doubt for Saturday's clash after picking up a slight injury during the international break, according to Goal's Enis Koylu, giving Bayern concerns in all areas of their line-up.
It will be of no concern to Hoffenheim, however, and if ever there were a time where the underdogs would have a chance at surmounting the Bavarian bruisers, now would be it.
Firmino Hoping to Cap Off Dream Week
After calls were made for the Hoffenheim hero to go to this summer's World Cup, Roberto Firmino finally made his Brazil debut this past month.
Following that first fixture against Turkey in October, he scored his first Selecao goal against Austria on Tuesday, per OptaFranz:
As Brazil Stats shows, it wasn't a bad strike, either:
"VINE - Roberto Firmino's goal yesterday. Stunning. https://t.co/ndopWxC5L2
— Seleção Brasileira (@BrazilStats) November 19, 2014"
The goal serves as vindication for national team manager Dunga, who will now feel justified in giving the forward his first experience as a member of the squad.
Sky Sports' South American correspondent Paulo Freitas gave some indication of the level to which he can see Firmino rising in future:
In order to get the better of Bayern, Hoffenheim will of course need a team performance with every player at their optimum.
Having featured as the club's most prominent attacker in recent years, the ever-improving Firmino will be critical in that sense and a great burden lies with him in breaking down Guardiola's ranks at the back.
