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MUNICH, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 29:  David Alaba (R) of Bayern Munchen challenges Angelo Henriquez of Dinamo Zagreb during the UEFA Champions League Group F match between FC Bayern Munchen and GNK Dinamo Zagreb at the Allianz Arena on September 29, 2015 in Munich, Germany.  (Photo by Boris Streubel/Getty Images)
MUNICH, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 29: David Alaba (R) of Bayern Munchen challenges Angelo Henriquez of Dinamo Zagreb during the UEFA Champions League Group F match between FC Bayern Munchen and GNK Dinamo Zagreb at the Allianz Arena on September 29, 2015 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Boris Streubel/Getty Images)Boris Streubel/Getty Images

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

Clark WhitneyDec 7, 2015

Bayern Munich may have already sealed first place in Champions League Group F, but the Bavarian giants will have a point to prove on Wednesday as they take on Dinamo Zagreb at Stadion Maksimir.

Pep Guardiola's men suffered their first Bundesliga defeat of the season on Saturday, a 3-1 capitulation against Borussia Monchengladbach that marked just their third loss in all competitions in 2015-16. And now, despite having a three-point lead over group runners-up Olympiakos and a +14 goal difference in a section in which no other team has a positive value in that statistic, they will look to rebound in their first-ever visit to Croatia's capital.

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The hosts enter Wednesday's match having won four of their last five games in all competitions, including Saturday's victory over arch-rivals Hajduk Split. However, having lost 5-0 to Bayern earlier this campaign, Dinamo know they have their work cut out.

Although the Croatian side have already been eliminated from the Champions League, the match will be particularly special for trainer Zoran Mamic. The former defensive midfielder represented Bochum and Bayer Leverkusen in Germany during his playing career, but he was never able to overcome Bayern head-to-head.

Dinamo are winless with just two draws in 11 matches they've played against German opposition in UEFA competitions. History and form this season suggest the Bavarians should win this one, but after Saturday's result, Bayern know especially well that an upset is always possible.

Date: Wednesday, December 9

Time: 7:45 p.m. GMT / 2:30 a.m. EST / 8:30 p.m. local time

Venue: Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb

TV Info: Not Available (U.S. only), BT Sport Extra 3 (UK only)

Live Stream: FoxSoccer2Go (U.S. only), BT Sport (UK only)

Form Guide

Dinamo ZagrebBayern Munich
Hajduk Split: Win Monchengladbach: Loss 
Lokomotiva Zagreb: Win Hertha: Win
Arsenal: LossOlympiakos: Win
Slaven Koprivnica: WinSchalke: Win
Istra 1961: WinStuttgart: Win

Predicted Lineups

Dinamo Zagreb

Mamic has no suspended players entering Wednesday's game and could use a number of possibilities in his starting XI, as his side have lost six of their last 13 games in all competitions. The trainer seemed to pick the right combination over the weekend in Dinamo's big win, so a repeat of that selection is entirely likely on Wednesday.

Possible Dinamo Zagreb starting XI: Eduardo; Pinto, Goncalo, Benkovic, Pivaric; Antolic, Pavicic; Pjaca, Rog, Fernandes; Henriquez. 

Bayern Munich

Holger Badstuber will have to sit out of Wednesday's match, having been sent off in the previous Champions League clash with Olympiakos. Thiago Alcantara, Mario Gotze and David Alaba are all definite absentees, while Juan Bernat, Arjen Robben and Douglas Costa have missed Bayern's last few games.

Franck Ribery made his long-awaited return to action as a substitute on Saturday and scored, but it's uncertain as to whether he'll be fit to start.

Possible Bayern Munich starting XI: Neuer; Lahm, Boateng, Benatia, Rafinha; Alonso, Martinez, Vidal; Muller, Lewandowski, Coman.

Players to Watch

For the hosts, youngster Marko Rog will be playing in perhaps the biggest game of his career to date. The 20-year-old could take the chance to make a big mark on the greatest stage.

Junior Fernandes may also be one to watch. He dismantled Arsenal earlier this season and will have a point to prove after his unsuccessful spell at Leverkusen.

All eyes will be on prolific scorers Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller, but Bayern were lacking a creator in Saturday's loss. As such, Ribery could play a huge role, even off the bench. Kingsley Coman also could be a key player for Bayern, the 19-year-old having already turned heads in the Champions League.

Key Battles

Marko Rog vs. Javi Martinez

The most exciting prospect in Dinamo's squad is certainly Rog, who has nailed down an apparently permanent starting role at the age of 20. He netted a brace against NK Lokomotiva at the end of November and will relish the opportunity to show his class on the grand stage of the Champions League.

Martinez proved in 2012-13 that he can be a world-class midfield anchor and has featured in such a role in recent weeks. He's been injured often in his Bayern career, but has performed well lately and even proved to be a goalscoring threat.

Robert Lewandowski vs. Eduardo

Lewandowski netted a hat-trick when Bayern hosted Dinamo in September and will be keen to repeat the feat having gone two games without a goal. The Poland international has struck 20 times for Bayern in the current campaign, and only Cristiano Ronaldo has exceeded his tally of five goals in the Champions League this season.

Eduardo had to pick the ball out of his net five times the first time Dinamo faced Bayern this season, and will be aiming for a better performance on Wednesday.

The 33-year-old has plenty of experience, including 34 caps for his native Portugal, and he will need to keep calm nerves in order to deny a Bayern side that has abundant firepower.

Odds (courtesy of Odds Shark)

Dinamo Zagreb: 9/1

Draw: 5/1

Bayern Munich: 1/4

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