Paderborn vs. Bayern Munich: Team News, Predicted Line-Ups, Live Stream, TV Info

Bayern Munich resume Bundesliga play against Paderborn on Saturday following their midweek draw with Shakhtar Donetsk. The German giants had a busy and strenuous start to their week, playing in frigid conditions in L'viv on Tuesday evening before flying home the same night.

Pep Guardiola's men have been home since early Wednesday morning, though, and have had time to mull their deficiencies from a game in which they took only a handful of attempts at their hosts' goal. Just days before, they had hammered Hamburg 8-0, peppering Jaroslav Drobny's goal with shot after shot.

Paderborn enter Saturday's match on a positive note, having ended a 10-game winless slide that saw the promoted club drop to 15th place. Their three points in Hannover last weekend also raised them three places in the Bundesliga table, but coach Andre Breitenreiter and company nonetheless remain in serious danger of being relegated to the 2. Bundesliga. Even a point against Bayern would be considered a huge win and could go a long way towards galvanizing the team in their fight to avoid the drop.

If history is an indicator, though, the hosts face an enormous test. Bayern comfortably beat the promoted side 4-0 in September, with Mario Gotze scoring a brace and Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski also hitting the target.

Date: Saturday, February 21

Time: 2:30 p.m. GMT/9:30 a.m. ET

Venue: Energieteam Arena, Paderborn

TV Info: Not available (UK only)/Gol TV (U.S. only)

Live Stream: Gol TV (U.S. only)

Form Guide 

Paderborn	Bayern
Stuttgart: draw	Wolfsburg: loss
Mainz: loss	Schalke: draw
Hamburg: loss	Stuttgart: win
Koln: draw	Hamburg: win
Hannover: win	Shakhtar: draw

Predicted line-up

Jerome Boateng returns from suspension on Saturday and should be named to the Bayern starting lineup in central defense ahead of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Facing a rather weak Paderborn team should be a good chance to give Holger Badstuber some much needed match practice, and the fit-again center-back just might be brought back into the first XI. Rafinha and David Alaba are almost surely locks on the wings.

After Xabi Alonso's red card in midweek, Pep Guardiola may well break up the combination of he and Bastian Schweinsteiger in midfield, allowing him to use a wide array of attackers such as Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, Thomas Muller and Mario Gotze as well as striker Robert Lewandowski. Facing newly promoted competition offers a good chance for offensive players to gather some form and confidence, so chances are that Guardiola packs his forward line with a very aggressive combination.

Paderborn enter Saturday's match with an almost fully fit squad, the exception being that Thomas Bertels will miss the match. The hosts will likely line up in a conservative variant of the 4-2-3-1 formation, with goalkeeper Lukas Kruse protected by Daniel Bruckner, Rafa, Jens Wemmer and skipper Uwe Hunemeier. Elias Kachunga will likely lead the line, flanked by Suleyman Koc and Alban Meha. The center of midfield should contain Marvin Bakalorz, Mario Vrancic and ex-Gladbach man Lukas Rupp.

Players to watch

If restored to the starting lineup, Lewandowski will certainly be one to watch for Bayern. The Polish striker was benched in midweek and how he reacts could speak volumes about his future hopes of asserting himself in the Bayern team.

Similarly, Gotze has a point to prove. The 22-year-old was excellent last weekend but was substituted early against Shakhtar after a poor first-half performance. If betting on a player to step up, though, Arjen Robben is the man: His 14 goals and three assists in 17 Bundesliga games this season have carried Bayern.

Paderborn will need a big game from Elias Kachunga if they are to earn a positive result. The Germany under-21 international is his team's top scorer with five goals this season, but his work in harrying the Bayern defense and pressing will also be vital.

Key Battles

Uwe Hunemeier v Robert Lewandowski

Paderborn's captain, Uwe Hunemeier will need to inspire his teammates and lead the back line if the hosts are to get a surprise result against giants Bayern and their star-studded squad. Lewandowski, meanwhile, will be raring to prove himself and if he starts, will be ever a danger-man in the Bayern attack.

Elias Kachunga v Bastian Schweinsteiger

If Paderborn are to score, Elias Kachunga will likely be the man to provide the goal. But the striker's significance may be much greater in pressing and hold-up play, and he in all likelihood will have to drop deep to be involved in the game. If Guardiola opts for a 4-1-4-1 formation, the Paderborn forward may best make his impression felt by harrying Bayern's pivot, Schweinsteiger. The 30-year-old midfielder will have to be wary, and if he's the only true defensive player screening the back four, he'll have his work cut out.

Odds (Via Odds Shark)

Bayern: 1-7

Draw: 6.5-1

Paderborn: 14-1

@Mr_Bundesliga