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WOLFSBURG, GERMANY - JANUARY 30:  Dante of Muenchen is challenged by Bas Dost of Wolfsburg during the Bundesliga match between VfL Wolfsburg and FC Bayern Muenchen at Volkswagen Arena on January 30, 2015 in Wolfsburg, Germany.  (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images for MAN)
WOLFSBURG, GERMANY - JANUARY 30: Dante of Muenchen is challenged by Bas Dost of Wolfsburg during the Bundesliga match between VfL Wolfsburg and FC Bayern Muenchen at Volkswagen Arena on January 30, 2015 in Wolfsburg, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images for MAN)Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

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

Clark WhitneyJul 31, 2015

Even with the Bundesliga restart two weeks away, Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg begin their respective competitive seasons on Saturday, as they face off in the German Supercup, known as the DFB-Superpokal.

The test puts Bundesliga winners and German Cup (DFB-Pokal) runners-up Bayern against Pokal champions and league runners-up Wolfsburg, in a match hosted by the Lower Saxony side at the Volkswagen Arena.

Pep Guardiola's men last won the Superpokal in 2012, finishing second in the last two installments of the one-off competition. As they look to assert themselves toward the end of what has been a volatile preseason, they will also aim for their fifth Superpokal title, which would put them level with record champions Borussia Dortmund.

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Wolfsburg will aim for their first Superpokal win, their only previous appearance in the competition having come in 2009, after they won the Bundesliga title. In that match, they were defeated 2-1 by Werder Bremen.

Having lost both of their recent Emirates Cup fixtures and won only one of five test matches, Wolfsburg will be eager to turn over a new leaf. They'll have it all to do against Bayern, though—the German giants have looked extremely dangerous at times. For both sides, the Superpokal should be a good test of form and preparedness ahead of the Bundesliga restart.

Date: Saturday, August 1

Time: 7:30 p.m. BST/2:30 p.m. EST/8:30 p.m. local time

Venue: Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg

TV Info: Not available (U.S. and UK)

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

Form Guide 

WolfsburgBayern
Arsenal: LossGuangzhou: Draw
Villarreal: LossInter: Win
Zurich: WinValencia: Win
Ajax: DrawGladbach: Draw
Lechia Gdansk: DrawAugsburg: Loss
Bayern Munich's Dutch midfielder Arjen Robben (C) vies for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match VfL Wolfsburg v FC Bayern Muenchen at the Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg, central Germany on January 30, 2015. AFP PHOTO / ODD AN

Predicted Lineups

Pep Guardiola confirmed in a Friday press conference (via Spox, in German) that Arjen Robben will be back in his squad to face Wolfsburg after recovering from a muscular injury, but it is uncertain whether new signing Arturo Vidal will be available.

Dante, Holger Badstuber, Javi Martinez, Jan Kirchhoff and Franck Ribery are all sidelined with various ailments.

Possible Bayern Munich starting XI: Neuer; Rafinha, Benatia, Boateng, Alaba; Lahm, Alonso; Thiago; Muller, Lewandowski, Costa

German Player of the Year Kevin De Bruyne completed training on Friday, which is a big boost for Wolfsburg after the Belgian had been a doubt due to a back injury. Luiz Gustavo, however, will miss out on the match against his former team, as he recovers from a knee operation.

Ivan Perisic also has knee problems and will miss the match, as will Bas Dost and Aaron Hunt.

Possible Wolfsburg starting XI Benaglio; Jung, Naldo, Knoche, Rodriguez; Arnold, Guilavogui; Caligiuri, De Bruyne, Schurrle; Kruse

Bayern Munich's Polish striker Robert Lewandowski (L) vies with Wolfsburg's Portuguese striker Vieirinha during the German first division Bundesliga football match VfL Wolfsburg v FC Bayern Muenchen at the Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg, central Germany on

Players to Watch

Douglas Costa has proved to be a real sparkplug for the Bayern attack; the new signing's pace and skillful dribbling has ripped apart defenses during the preseason. He'll now have to translate his form on a competitive level.

Opposite Costa, Robben could start, but it's likely he will play some minutes off the bench. After missing Bayern's trip to China, the Wolfsburg match will be a good gauge of where he stands in terms of preparedness for the coming season.

For Wolfsburg, De Bruyne is the man who will be most watched by Bayern's defense. As both a scorer and provider, he has all the skill and class to win the match on his own.

World Cup winner Andre Schurrle will be a danger man for the hosts as well. The former Chelsea forward didn't exactly impress at Wolfsburg last year, but he showed just one year ago in Brazil just how decisive he can be at the highest level, assisting Mario Gotze's winner in the final.

Key Battles

Naldo vs Robert Lewandowski

Naldo was well in the running for the title of best center back in Germany last season, the Brazilian having played an enormous role in Wolfsburg's success. His 6'6" stature is imposing to even the strongest strikers, and he is remarkably clean in the tackle. Even as he approaches his 33rd birthday, he seems to have something left in the tank. 

Lewandowski is the best striker in Germany—hands down—and one of the very best in the world. He recently told the Bayern website (via Goal.com): "I don’t believe the fans have already seen the best of me. I can, and will, be even better this season. I’m certain of that." We'll soon see if he can keep his word.

Wolfsburg's Kevin De Bruyne (down) reacts after scoring the second goal during the German first division Bundesliga football match VfL Wolfsburg v FC Bayern Muenchen at the Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg, central Germany on January 30, 2015. AFP PHOTO / OD

Kevin De Bruyne vs Philipp Lahm

When Wolfsburg faced Bayern earlier this year, De Bruyne propelled the Lower Saxons to victory with two brilliantly taken goals. He'll aim to be the "Bayern slayer" again and will surely be seen as the Wolves' biggest threat going forward.

Philipp Lahm was injured during Wolfsburg's hammering of the Bavarians, and his presence was sorely missed. He'll likely play in midfield during the Superpokal, and if he is used centrally, his biggest task will be to mark De Bruyne into anonymity. He's done it before as a full-back against some of the world's best wingers but will have it all to do against the burgeoning Belgian.

Odds (courtesy of Odds Checker)

Wolfsburg: 3-1

Draw: 14-5

Bayern: 19-20

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