Bayern Munich vs. Augsburg: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
Bundesliga action resumes this weekend following the international break, with Bayern Munich looking to extend their perfect record on Saturday as they host Augsburg at the Allianz Arena. The three-time defending German champions have won all three of their league fixtures thus far this season, but they will face stiff opposition in the form of their derby opponents from about an hour's drive away.
Bayern will have to cope with the loss of Arjen Robben, who picked up an injury while on international duty for the Netherlands. And Douglas Costa may be a bit short of rest, having spent the recent break from club football in the Americas.
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Pep Guardiola's men do have momentum on their side, however, having overcome an early deficit to defeat Hoffenheim despite being a man down two games ago, and having put Leverkusen to the sword in a 3-0 victory in their most recent fixture.
Augsburg, by contrast, are quite lacking in form and have looked a shadow of the side that finished a surprise fifth in the Bundesliga last season. Markus Weinzierl's men have taken just one point from their three matches thus far, leaving them 15th in the table, and look far from ready to compete in the Europa League.
Derby matches offer an extra bit of motivation, though, and sometimes can prove to be what a club need to find their form. Augsburg managed to beat Bayern at the Allianz Arena in spring and could prove worthy of an upset. However, the hosts enter Saturday's game in near-unstoppable form, having blown out opponents in two fixtures and overcome enormous adversity in a third. The champions will absolutely be favorites as they look to extend their perfect record.
Date: Saturday, September 12
Time: 2:30 p.m. BST / 9:30 a.m. EST / 3:30 p.m. local time
Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich
TV Info: Fox Soccer 2 (U.S. only), BT Sport Europe (UK only, on time delay, starting 11:45 p.m.)
Live Stream: Fox Soccer 2Go (U.S. only)
Form Guide
| Bayern | Augsburg |
| Leverkusen: Win | Ingolstadt: Loss |
| Hoffenheim: Win | Frankfurt: Draw |
| Hamburg: Win | Hertha: Loss |
| Nottingen: Win | Elversberg: Win |
| Real Madrid: Win | Toulouse: Win |
Predicted Lineups
Bayern Munich
Arjen Robben became the next addition to Guardiola's casualty list, the Dutch winger suffering a muscular injury during the international break. He'll miss Saturday's match, along with Franck Ribery, Javi Martinez, Mehdi Benatia, Jan Kirchhoff and Holger Badstuber.
Possible Bayern Munich starting XI: Neuer; Boateng, Alonso, Alaba; Lahm, Vidal, Thiago, Gotze; Muller, Lewandowski, Costa
Augsburg
Long-term absentee Shawn Parker, Jan Moravek, Marco Schuster and new signing Daniel Opare will all miss out on Saturday's match. At left-back, Kostas Stafylidis may have an edge for the visitors, while it appears that a front three of Tobias Werner, Caiuby and Raul Bobadilla will lead the attack.
Possible Leverkusen starting XI: Hitz; Verhaegh, Hong, Klavan, Stafylidis; Altintop, Baier, Kohr; Bobadilla, Caiuby, Werner
Players to Watch
Many of Bayern's usual suspects to look out for will be either sidelined with injury or perhaps a bit tired after the international break, so this weekend's match offers a chance for more fringe players like Mario Gotze, who played very well for Germany, to step up. New signing Kingsley Coman also could be a key player if given a chance to shine.
From Augsburg's side of the pitch, captain Paul Verhaegh is absolutely one to watch. The captain was magnificent last season and arguably the best right-back in the Bundesliga. Up front, Raul Bobadilla is the Bavarians' main threat, having scored the winner in Munich earlier this year.
Key Battles
Thomas Muller vs. Dominik Kohr
With Robben sidelined and Costa perhaps a bit short of fitness, a bit more pressure than usual will be on Thomas Muller. The forward, who celebrates his 26th birthday on Sunday, was brilliant on international duty and has already scored eight goals and given two assists in six games for club and country this season. He'll absolutely be the danger man for Bayern against Augsburg.
Exactly where Muller will play is uncertain, but Dominik Kohr will likely come up against him at one point or another. The Leverkusen academy graduate once showed brilliant potential, winning the bronze Fritz Walter Medals at U18 and U19 level. He's since fallen out of the Germany international spotlight, but at just 21 years of age, he still has time on his side. A big game against Bayern could put him back on track.
Robert Lewandowski vs. Jeong-Ho Hong
Along with Muller, a bit of extra pressure will be on Robert Lewandowski to deliver the necessary goals against Augsburg. The Poland international was also in good form for country over the last week, and critically, he's managed to show up when needed. His goal off the bench against Hoffenheim was crucial, and with some of his side's best creators sidelined, Lewandowski may need to pull another rabbit out of his hat to overcome Augsburg.
During the preseason, Jeong-Ho Hong stunned Bayern as he headed home a corner for Augsburg in their Telekom Cup win against Bayern. The South Korean defender may be a bit short of fitness after the international break, but he's absolutely a member of the Augsburg first team, and his side will need him to be extra-sharp against Lewandowski and company.
Odds (courtesy of Odds Shark)
Bayern: 100-667
Draw: 689-100
Augsburg: 29-2
