
Bayern Munich vs. Darmstadt: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
Bayern Munich will aim to take another step towards a treble on Tuesday as they take on Darmstadt in the DFB-Pokal.
The Bavarians beat both Nottingen and holders Wolfsburg 3-1 in the first two rounds, and they will aim to progress to the quarter-finals as they host their newly-promoted Bundesliga opponents.
Pep Guardiola and Co. wrapped up the "winter championship" in the Bundesliga over the weekend, beating Ingolstadt 2-0 to make them uncatchable atop the table before the winter break begins. But the German giants will need to keep their focus if they are to advance in the Pokal, a single-elimination competition.
TOP NEWS

Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲

'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳

Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
Guardiola is especially wary of the possibility of his side turning down the pressure. Ahead of Tuesday's game, the trainer insisted that the blight of injuries affecting his squad is no excuse, and he warned against complacency:
"Our staffing situation should not be an excuse for the first half (against Ingolstadt)," he said, according to Goal. "We may not start the upcoming matches against Darmstadt and Hannover like that. That would be dangerous."
Bayern will have to do without several key players, but they will also face a Darmstadt side that have won just one game since October. The Hessian team edged Frankfurt 1-0 earlier this month, but they were hammered 4-0 by Hertha BSC in their most recent match.
Darmstadt will be well aware of the threat Bayern pose, having lost 3-0 to the Bavarians in September. Bayern went top of the Bundesliga table after that match, and they haven't looked back since.
Date: Tuesday, December 15
Time: 7:30 p.m. GMT / 2:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. local time
Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich
TV Info: ESPN Deportes (U.S. only, on time delay beginning 3:00 p.m.), BT Sport Europe (UK only)
Live Stream: Not available (U.S. and UK)
Form Guide
| Bayern Munich | Darmstadt |
| Ingolstadt: Win | Hertha BSC: Loss |
| Dinamo Zagreb: Win | Eintracht Frankfurt: Win |
| Monchengladbach: Loss | Cologne: Draw |
| Hertha BSC: Win | Ingolstadt: Loss |
| Olympiakos: Win | Hamburg: Draw |

Predicted Lineups
Bayern Munich
Arjen Robben and Douglas Costa are approaching fitness having missed out on the weekend's action, but fellow attackers Franck Ribery and Mario Gotze are definite absentees. Guardiola will also have to do without Juan Bernat, Mehdi Benatia and David Alaba.
Possible Bayern Munich starting XI: Neuer; Lahm, Boateng, Martinez, Rafinha; Vidal, Alonso, Kimmich; Muller, Lewandowski, Coman.
Darmstadt
Dirk Schuster will be without the services of Fabian Holland and Milan Ivana. Jan Rosenthal is also a doubt, having taken a knock during the weekend.
Possible Darmstadt starting XI: Mathenia; Garics, Sulu, Caldirola, Holland; Gondorf, Jungwirth; Heller, Kempe; Sailer, Wagner.
Players to Watch
For Bayern, youngsters Joshua Kimmich and Kingsley Coman will be ones to watch as they look to assert themselves in the absence of more established starters. Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski always look to be worth a goal or two, especially if Bayern are in need.
Darmstadt's Sandro Wagner will be eager to make a good impression against the club he played for during his youth. Center-backs Aytac Sulu and Luca Caldirola will also be key players for the visitors if they are to avoid getting hammered by Bayern's prolific attack.

Key Battles
Rafinha vs. Marcel Heller
A right-back for most of his career, Rafinha has filled in well for Alaba and Bernat on the left of defense in recent weeks. The 30-year-old is probably the closest thing to a weak point in the Bayern back line, though, and he will have to be at his best to ensure a clean sheet.
Heller is Darmstadt's most prolific scorer this season, having found the net five times, and he will be a key danger man for the visitors on Tuesday. He can score, but he also has a good ability to bring the ball forward—a crucial factor against a Bayern side that will surrender little space.
Robert Lewandowski vs. Aytac Sulu
Lewandowski came to the rescue yet again over the weekend, putting Bayern ahead of a resolute Ingolstadt side that didn't look like conceding. The Poland international has now scored 23 goals in all competitions for Bayern this season, and he could yet put a few more past vulnerable Darmstadt.
Sulu is a leader in the Darmstadt defense and has put in some heroic performances for his side this season. The Heidelberg-born defender is his club's captain and has led by example, not only with solid defensive displays, but also with five goals scored in all competitions.
Odds (courtesy of Oddschecker)
Bayern: 1-14
Draw: 14-1
Darmstadt: 55-1






