Dynamo Dresden vs. Bayern Munich: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info

Although the Bundesliga campaign has already begun and the 3. Liga has been underway for several weeks, German champions Bayern Munich will visit third-tier outfit Dynamo Dresden on Monday for a friendly match.

Since losing the DFB-Supercup to Wolfsburg in penalty shootout, the Bavarian giants have been in excellent form, beating Milan and Real Madrid en route to claiming the Audi Cup and winning their first DFB-Pokal and Bundesliga fixtures against Nottingen and Hamburg respectively by an aggregate 8-1 margin.

Pep Guardiola's side look a force to be reckoned with this season, and Monday's match against Dresden should be a good opportunity for some fringe players to make an impression and appeal for more playing time.

Dresden's campaign is already several weeks old, with Peter Nemeth's men asserting themselves as top candidates for promotion to the 2. Bundesliga. They've won two of their first three games in the 3. Liga, downing Erfurt and Stuttgart's reserves either side of a draw with Wurzburger Kickers.

Although they play in the third division, Dresden have proved formidable opponents in the past, capable of punching above their weight class. Last season, they reached the third round of the DFB-Pokal before bowing out to Borussia Dortmund, shocking Schalke and beating 2. Bundesliga side Bochum along the way.

Monday's match will be a good test of Dresden's quality against top opponents, while it will give some of Guardiola's lesser used players a chance to shine.

Date: Monday, August 17

Time: 5 p.m. BST / 12 p.m. EST / 6 p.m. local time

Venue: Stadion Dresden, Dresden

TV Info: Not available (U.S. and UK)

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

Form Guide

Dynamo Dresden	Bayern Munich
Rot-Weiss Erfurt: Win	Hamburg: Win
Berliner AK: Win	Nottingen: Win
Wurzburger Kickers: Draw	Real Madrid: Win
Stuttgart II: Win	Milan: Win
Teplice: Win	Wolfsburg: Draw

Predicted Lineups

Dresden will likely take the Bayern match seriously, as it's a rare opportunity to face off against top opposition, so a full first team can be expected from Nemeth and company. The side from former East Germany did not participate in the DFB-Pokal this season, meaning fatigue should not be factored into their selection.

Possible Dynamo Dresden starting XI: Blaswich; Teixeira, Hefele, Modica, Kreuzer; Lumpi, Hartmann; Eilers, Aosman, Stefaniak; Vayrynen.

Bayern's starting lineup could take many possible shapes and include any combination of reserves and first-team players. Guardiola is unlikely to risk injury or fatigue to any of his star players, though, so one can expect to see the likes of Pierre Hojbjerg, Sebastian Rode and Joshua Kimmich, none of whom played against Hamburg, in the first team. The likes of Franck Ribery, Holger Badstuber, and Javi Martinez will miss the match as they recover from injuries.

Possible Bayern Munich starting XI: Ulreich; Rafinha, Boateng, Bernat; Hojbjerg, Rode, Kimmich, Gaudino, Bernat; Gotze, Kurt.

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Players to Watch

From Bayern's end, the head-to-head battle among the midfielders is of particular importance. Pierre Hojbjerg, Sebastian Rode, Joshua Kimmich and Gianluca Gaudino are all central midfielders with a point to prove, and the only the first two can realistically expect to play a significant amount of football this season.

Up front, Mario Gotze may start, and Sinan Kurt also has a chance. The former will be desperate to state his case for playing time, and if he doesn't perform, he may try to push for an exit before the transfer window closes. The latter is still young and playing with the reserves; like Gaudino in particular, he'll try to catch Guardiola's eye.

Key Battles

Justin Eilers vs. Juan Bernat

Justin Eilers has started his 3. Liga campaign in fine form, scoring twice against Stuttgart's reserves and adding a third to his season tally coming off the bench in the win against Erfurt. He'll look to pin back Juan Bernat and get behind the Spaniard when he goes forward.

Juan Bernat had his ups and downs last season but rarely missed a game. His starting role is seriously in danger, as the Bayern squad has changed in the offseason, and his benching against Hamburg is a clear sign he has something to prove if he is to become a starter once more. He'll have to take his chance against Dresden.

Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

Nils Teixeira vs. Sinan Kurt

A Germany youth international from under-16 to under-20 levels, Nils Teixeira has perhaps lost his chance to become a top-tier player. Still, the 25-year-old is one of the finest right-backs in the 3. Liga and can hold his own even at a higher level.

Opposite Teixeira will more likely than not be Sinan Kurt, either as a winger or left-drifting forward. The 19-year-old had a tough first season in Munich and hasn't yet asserted himself as the type of player who can truly deliver for a club as big as Bayern. Like Bernat, he'll be aiming to take his chance to impress.

@Mr_Bundesliga