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

Germany's defending league champions and cup victors face off on Tuesday as Bundesliga holders Bayern Munich visit last season's DFB-Pokal winners Wolfsburg in the second round of the 2015-16 Pokal. Both sides overcame lower-league opposition in the first round but now face a big, early challenge in their respective quests for cup glory.

Wolfsburg emerged as Bayern's most immediate challengers last season, finishing second in the league before winning the Pokal. And although the Bavarians won the Bundesliga by a 10-point margin, Dieter Hecking's men handed them a 4-1 drubbing in January before edging them in penalties in August's DFL-Supercup.

The rivalry that grew earlier in 2015 has since subsided, however, with Bayern having hammered Wolfsburg 5-1 in their Bundesliga meeting in September. And with the Wolves already looking more like fighting for a top-four place than the league title, they will enter Tuesday's clash as clear underdogs.

At the same time, the format of Pokal matches presents a chance for the status quo to be upset. Wolfsburg will have the home support behind them and face a Bayern side that at least showed a glimpse of their mortality in their recent loss to Arsenal in the Champions League. However, they'll have it all to do against a Bayern side that, on balance, has looked to be Europe's best club this season.

Date: Tuesday, October 27

Time: 7:30 p.m. GMT / 3:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. local time

Venue: Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg

TV Info: BT Sport 1 (UK only)

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

Form Guide

Wolfsburg	Bayern Munich
Darmstadt: Win	Cologne: Win
PSV Eindhoven: Win	Arsenal: Loss
Monchengladbach: Loss	Werder Bremen: Win
Manchester United: Loss	Borussia Dortmund: Win
Hannover: Draw	Dinamo Zagreb: Win

Predicted Lineups

Wolfsburg

Dieter Hecking is a fan of the 4-1-4-1 formation but will more likely than not use a pair of holding midfielders against a strong Bayern side. The trainer will be unable to call upon Robin Knoche or Felipe but should otherwise have a full squad available.

Possible Wolfsburg starting XI: Benaglio; Trasch, Naldo, Dante, Rodriguez; Guilavogui, Gustavo; Caligiuri, Kruse, Draxler; Dost.

Boris Streubel/Getty Images

Bayern Munich

Guardiola used five attackers against Cologne on Saturday but will more likely than not play it a bit safer in a one-off and against tougher opponents in Wolfsburg. However, the trainer may find it difficult to choose which forward to remove from his lineup after a four-goal haul on Saturday. Franck Ribery, Holger Badstuber, Sebastian Rode and Mario Gotze will miss out on the action because of injuries.

Possible Bayern Munich starting XI: Neuer; Lahm, Boateng, Martinez, Alaba; Vidal, Alonso, Thiago; Muller, Lewandowski, Costa.

Players to Watch

For the hosts, all eyes will be on Julian Draxler to fill Kevin De Bruyne's boots, although Max Kruse's form in recent weeks suggests he could make all the difference for Wolfsburg. Another danger man is World Cup hero Andre Schurrle, while Dante and Luiz Gustavo will aim to make an impression against their former club.

Bayern will also have players to watch all over the pitch, with their amorphous play and superlative talent in all positions making them unpredictable. Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller are the in-form goalscorers to keep an eye on, with Douglas Costa the provider. But it could also be a big game for fit-again Arjen Robben or the up-and-coming Kingsley Coman.

Key Battles

Julian Draxler vs. Arturo Vidal

There's little question Draxler is Wolfsburg's most talented and skillful attacking player, which will in all likelihood make him a particular target of the Bayern defense. Still, games such as Tuesday's are what transform talents into established superstars, and the Schalke academy graduate will aim to emulate De Bruyne in taking a big step in his career against Bayern.

As wary of Draxler as Bayern will be, their game plan in all likelihood will focus on controlling the midfield play and keeping the 22-year-old quiet by denying him the ball as they look to attack. Still, Arturo Vidal will be the midfield man used to win back the ball from Draxler and to play between the lines. The visitors will need a big game from the Chilean if they are to reach their peak form.

Boris Streubel/Getty Images

Naldo vs. Robert Lewandowski

A veteran defender with experience, skill and athleticism among his attributes, Naldo will be the player Wolfsburg will look to for inspiration as they try to keep Bayern quiet in attack. The Brazilian will need a superlative performance in order to help ensure a clean sheet. But if he's ineffective at the defending end, Naldo will also be a danger both from taking free-kicks and in the air from set plays.

The last time Lewandowski faced Wolfsburg, he came off the bench to score five goals in just nine minutes. It was a performance that will be regarded as one of the best individual displays in Bundesliga history, and the hosts will do everything possible to avoid a repeat on Tuesday. However, if the upcoming game is a tight one, the Poland international may be the key to Bayern's success. He seems to have the Wolves' number.

Odds (courtesy of Oddschecker)

Wolfsburg: 5/1

Draw: 10/3

Bayern: 7/10

@Mr_Bundesliga