Hoffenheim vs. Bayern: Team News, Predicted Line-Ups, Live Stream & TV Info

Bayern Munich visit Hoffenheim on Saturday looking to move another step toward wrapping up the Bundesliga title. Pep Guardiola’s men enter the match with a 10-point lead over Wolfsburg in the league table, and a win in Sinsheim would move them ever closer to a third consecutive German championship.

The Bavarians have had a heavy schedule of late, though, and their most recent match came in midweek as Porto defeated them 3-1 in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal tie. Their fatigue has been exacerbated by a plague of injuries, decimating the squad and severely limiting Guardiola’s options for rotation.

Standing in Bayern’s way are Hoffenheim, who are in the midst of a desperate fight to book their place in the 2015-16 Europa League. The village club sit seventh in the table at present, with four points separating them from fifth-placed Schalke, whose position guarantees them a Europa League spot.

Markus Gisdol has some real quality at his disposal, including mercurial attackers Roberto Firmino and Kevin Volland, who have combined for 17 goals and 18 assists in all competitions this season. Midfielder Sebastian Rudy has managed to impose himself in the Germany squad and is a contender to start at right-back if they qualify for Euro 2016.

Hoffenheim are heavy underdogs to just earn a point at home, with Guardiola’s men having earned almost twice the points they have in the Bundesliga. Weary legs could pave the way for an upset, but with the title so close, Bayern’s motivation and resolve will be high.

Date: Saturday, April 18

Time: 14:30 p.m. GMT / 9:30 a.m. ET

Venue: Rhein-Neckar Arena, Sinsheim

TV Info: GolTV (U.S. only)

Live Stream: GolTV (U.S. only)

Form Guide 

Hoffenheim	Bayern
Koln: loss	Porto: loss
Dortmund: loss	Frankfurt: win
Gladbach: loss	Leverkusen: draw
Paderborn: draw	Dortmund: win
Hamburg: win	Gladbach: loss

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

Predicted Line-ups

Hoffenheim have an almost complete first team available to play on Saturday, the exception being young center-back Niklas Sule, who still is recovering from a cruciate ligament tear that's likely to keep him sidelined until the beginning of the next season.

Oliver Baumann is first choice in goal for Hoffenheim. Ahead of him, the back four will likely be comprised of Andreas Beck, Tobias Strobl, Ermin Bicakcic and Kim Jin-Su. In midfield, expect a three-man core of Pirmin Schwegler, Eugen Polanski and Sebastian Rudy supporting an attacking trident of Roberto Firmino, Kevin Volland and Sven Schipplock.

Guardiola will likely aim to rest as many players as possible ahead of the second leg of Bayern's Champions League tie with Porto, although injuries will limit his options. Dante will probably stay in the first XI before dropping to the bench on Tuesday, and Holger Badstuber may be given a run-out to prepare him for the task ahead. Full-backs Juan Bernat and Rafinha are approaching irreplaceable at present, and Manuel Neuer can expect to start in goal.

In midfield, one of Philipp Lahm, Thiago Alcantara and Xabi Alonso will likely be replaced by Sebastian Rode. Gianluca Gaudino could also come into the midfield, although he's only played a very small role for the club since early in the campaign. Having played a great game against Porto but also having only just returned after missing a year of football, Thiago is the most likely absentee.

Up front, Mario Gotze will likely support Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski. In the absence of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, alternatives are just about nonexistent.

B/R

Players to Watch

If Hoffenheim manage to qualify for the Europa League, they’ll have two players to thank for their success: Roberto Firmino and Kevin Volland. The attacking duo have been superb for the majority of the last two seasons and give the village club the edge they need in big games. Both Firmino and Volland are all-round threats; they’re lightning fast and can dribble and are adept at both creating and finishing. Simply put, the Firmino-Volland combination is devastating on the counterattack.

For Bayern, the players under most pressure are the front three: Lewandowski, Gotze and Muller. The impetus to score will be on the league leaders, and the longer they go without taking the lead, the more emboldened Hoffenheim will become.

Lewandowski has been in fine form as of late but failed to hit the target against Porto. The same can be said of Muller. Gotze, on the other hand, has left plenty to be desired. A breakout game from him could be huge, especially considering his team's current lack of creative options in the final third. 

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

Key Battles

Roberto Firmino vs. Philipp Lahm

Although capable of pulling wide to either flank, Firmino often plays in the center. Far from the poacher type, he plays behind a main striker and looks to get the ball between the lines and run at defenders.

Lahm will be charged with stifling Firmino’s supply of the ball and ensuring he has as little space to work with as possible. The Bayern captain is fit again after a lengthy injury-enforced absence and will likely start in midfield, where he’ll act as the screen for the back line. If any player can stop Firmino, it’s the World Cup winner.

Sebastian Rudy vs. Mario Gotze

As Bayern's playmaker, Gotze will most likely pop up all over the attacking third in positions left, right and center. The 22-year-old will have enormous pressure on him as he looks to assert himself in the Bayern team and justify his billing as the next great thing in German football. Despite playing very well in October and some of November, he's shown very little since.

Sebastian Rudy will play opposite Gotze in the Hoffenheim midfield. The Germany international will have responsibility in the build-up while also attempting to starve Gotze of the ball. It's a tall order against a Bayern team known for their quality in midfield, but if there's any player in the Hoffenheim squad capable of holding his own against the visitors, it's Rudy.

Odds 
Courtesy of Odds Shark

Hoffenheim: 148/25

Draw: 391/100

Bayern: 50/119

@Mr_Bundesliga