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

Bayern Munich and Valencia kick off their respective tours to China on Saturday as they meet in Beijing's National Stadium.

The German giants will aim to make a statement in Asia as they prepare for the 2015-16 season, having underwhelmed in their first warm-up tests. Last week, they faced Augsburg and Borussia Monchengladbach in the Telekom Cup and finished in last place among four teams following losses in both fixtures.

Pep Guardiola will have a more complete squad than last week, however, as the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Javi Martinez and Jerome Boateng, among others, have since joined a squad consisting of 22 first-team players and three reserves.

The trainer will aim to help Douglas Costa integrate into the team during the China trip and to figure out what roles youngsters like Joshua Kimmich and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg will play in the months ahead.

Like Bayern, Valencia also competed in a pre-season tournament, the Audi Quattro Cup in Salzburg. Although they managed to reach the final, the Spaniards were beaten by Werder Bremen on penalties.

Nuno Espirito Santo nonetheless has a quality side, with owner Peter Lim's investment in the squad having a major effect on the Valencia lineup. This summer, Los Che have spent some €102 million on reinforcements, including making Alvaro Negredo's loan move permanent for €30 million. They also made a €60 million raid on Benfica that has brought the likes of Andre Gomes, Joao Cancelo and Rodrigo to the Mestalla on a permanent basis.

The Spaniards will aim to send a message to their Liga rivals on Saturday by claiming Bayern's scalp. It's anyone's game, but Valencia will have it all to do as they look to re-establish themselves as a consistent Champions League side. Momentum isn't yet with Bayern, though, and Guardiola will be under pressure to get the best out of his team after last week's disappointing start to the preseason.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Date: Saturday, July 18

Time: 12:35 p.m. BST/7:35 a.m. EST

Venue: Beijing National Stadium, Beijing

TV Info: Not available (U.S. and U.K.)

Live Stream: Not available (U.S. and U.K.)

Form Guide 

Bayern	Valencia
Gladbach: Draw	Bremen: Draw
Augsburg: Loss	Southampton: Win
	Wiener SK: Win

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

Predicted Lineups

Bayern have brought 22 first-team players, as well as reserves Phillipp Steinhart, Fabian Benko and Felix Pohl, to China. Guardiola will have most of his best lineup to choose from, although there will be some key absentees.

Franck Ribery, Holger Badstuber, Dante and Jan Kirchhoff are all still rehabilitating from injuries, and the club announced on their official website that Arjen Robben was left out of the squad due to muscular problems.

Possible starting XI: Neuer; Rafinha, Benatia, Boateng, Bernat; Thiago, Martinez, Alaba; Muller, Lewandowski, Costa

Per Valencia's official website, Santo has called up a 21-man roster for the trip to China, including marquee signings Negredo and Rodrigo. Newcomers Cancelo and Andre Gomes won't make the trip, and Nicolas Otamendi will also be missing.

However, stars like Paco Alcacer, Enzo Perez, Dani Parejo and Shkodran Mustafi will join Negredo and company in the squad to face Bayern.

Possible starting XI: Rodriguez; Barragan, Mustafi, Vezo, Gaya; Parejo, Fuego, Perez; Feghouli, Alcacer, Piatti

Alberto Saiz/Associated Press

Players to watch

From Bayern's angle, it will be interesting to see how Guardiola uses his young midfielders, Hojbjerg, Joshua Kimmich and Gianluca Gaudino. There won't be room for all three to play in the first team next season, and the trainer's selection will lend some insight as to whom he rates highest. Additionally, it will be interesting to see how the likes of Lewandowski and the others who missed the Telekom Cup fare in their first outing of the summer.

As for Valencia, all eyes will be on the €30 million men, Rodrigo and Negredo. Both underwhelmed while on loan last year, yet Los Che invested a combined €60 million in the pair to make them full members of the team. Both have critics to silence this season and will target a first step forward on Saturday.

Czarek Sokolowski/Associated Press

Key Battles

Robert Lewandowski vs Shkodran Mustafi

Lewandowski ended the 2014-15 campaign on a tear, finding his goalscoring form in the final months of the season. His performance will be critical to Bayern's title hopes this season, and the Poland international will aim to hit the ground running in his first preseason match.

With Otamendi out of action, the pressure will be on Mustafi to hold firm in defense. Despite donning a Hamburg shirt during his youth, the Germany international has never played in the Bundesliga. He'll face the German league's finest striker in Lewandowski.

Jerome Boateng v Paco Alcacer

Like Lewandowski, Jerome Boateng will play his first warm-up match on Saturday. The center-back, who played a great 2014-15 campaign but had his season marred by one fateful slip against Barcelona, will have his hands full against the talented Alcacer.

Despite the massive transfer fee spent on Negredo, Paco Alcacer is most likely to start in the current Valencia team. The 21-year-old established himself in the first team last season, scoring 14 goals in all competitions. If there's one danger-man for Valencia, he's the one to watch.

Odds (courtesy of Odds Checker)

Bayern: 7/9

Draw: 13/5

Valencia: 7/2

@Mr_Bundesliga