
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Bayern Munich: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info
Bayern Munich face their toughest test yet in 2016 as they visit the BayArena to take on Bayer Leverkusen in Saturday's Bundesliga clash. The Bavarian giants hold a commanding lead atop the league table, but will need to be careful not to slip as they look to build momentum ahead of upcoming elimination meetings with Bochum in the DFB-Pokal and Juventus in the Champions League.
Bayern manager Pep Guardiola will bring a somewhat battered side to the North Rhine-Westphalia, with slim pickings available in defense. Holger Badstuber is the only fit center-back in the team, which more likely than not will have to line up in a very aggressive formation.
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For Leverkusen, the match will be a real pressure cooker as they look to finish in the Bundesliga's top four. Hertha BSC are catchable in third place, but B04 look to be in a heated battle for fourth with Gladbach, Schalke and Wolfsburg among their formidable rivals.
Roger Schmidt has his side playing entertaining football, but Leverkusen's failure to capitalize on many opportunities saw them crash out of the Champions League. Similar struggles in the Bundesliga could see them fail to qualify for Europe's elite club competition next season. Accordingly, the hosts will be at peak motivation to do what few teams have managed to do in recent years and what their closest competitors will probably be unable to do: upset Bayern.
Last spring, Bayern and Leverkusen played to 120 minutes in a very exciting Pokal clash before the Bavarians sealed progress in penalties. If Saturday's match is half as entertaining, it will be quite a spectacle to see.
Date: Saturday, Feb. 6
Time: 5:30 p.m. GMT / 12:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. local time
Venue: BayArena, Leverkusen
TV Info: Fox (U.S. only), BT Sport Europe (UK only)
Live Stream: Fox Soccer 2Go (U.S. only), Not available (UK only)
Form Guide
| Leverkusen | Bayern Munich |
| Hannover: Win | Hoffenheim: Win |
| Hoffenheim: Draw | Hamburg: Win |
| Bochum: Loss | Karlsruhe: Loss |
| Internacional: Draw | Hannover: Win |
| Santa Fe: Win | Darmstadt: Win |

Predicted Lineups
Leverkusen
Schmidt will have to do without two key central midfielders, captain Lars Bender and summer signing Charles Aranguiz. As well, Robbie Kruse will miss out on the action.
Possible Leverkusen starting XI: Leno; Jedvaj, Tah, Toprak, Wendell; Bellarabi, Kramer, Kampl, Calhanoglu; Kiessling, Hernandez.
Bayern Munich
Serdar Tasci suffered a concussion in his first training session at Bayern and is expected to join fellow defenders Medhi Benatia, Jerome Boateng and Javi Martinez in the stands. This weekend also comes too soon for Franck Ribery and Mario Gotze to return to action.
Possible Bayern Munich starting XI: Neuer; Lahm, Badstuber, Alaba; Vidal, Alonso, Thiago; Robben, Muller, Costa; Lewandowski.
Players to Watch
Leverkusen have class all over the pitch, but in a tough match against Bayern they may need a bit of magic from free-kick specialist Hakan Calhanoglu or dribble-master Karim Bellarabi. Javier Hernandez will in any case have a chance or two to score, from one source or another. And at the back, it will be a big match for youngsters Jonathan Tah and Tin Jedvaj.
For Bayern, Guardiola's selection at center-back could be hugely important; if the chosen pair are not up for the task, it could be a busy day for Manuel Neuer in goal. The Bavarians will probably aim to outgun their opponents, and to this end, supplier Douglas Costa will be key. Arjen Robben and Thomas Muller are more than capable of being decisive on the big stage, and Robert Lewandowski is devastating when at his best.

Key Battles
Javier Hernandez vs. Manuel Neuer
Leverkusen haven't had as much productivity from attacking midfielders Bellarabi and Calhanoglu as they may have expected heading into the season, but Javier Hernandez has picked up the slack brilliantly, especially since mid-October. He'll be the main danger-man for the hosts as they look to upset the perennial Bundesliga favorites.
Regardless of which Bayern defenders start in the center-back positions, Hernandez will probably have at least a chance or two. The key to stopping him is Manuel Neuer, whose class has bailed out his defense several times this season. The 29-year-old is a goalkeeping legend in the making, and his form could play a huge role in deciding Bayern's success this season.
Tin Jedvaj vs. Douglas Costa
Leverkusen made a great investment for the future when they signed Tin Jedvaj on a permanent deal last January, the youngster having impressed while on loan at the BayArena. He's often been injured, but the 20-year-old appears to have the trust of Roger Schmidt: Leverkusen sold one of his main competitors for a starting role, Giulio Donati, to Mainz this January.
Facing an aggressive, pressing Leverkusen side, Bayern may find it tricky to find free space and create scoring opportunities. In such situations, the players capable of a bit of wizardry are the ones to look to: In Bayern's case, Douglas Costa is the man whose ability (or lack thereof) to dribble through the hosts' defense could make all the difference.
Odds (courtesy of Odds Shark)
Leverkusen: 131/25
Draw: 79/25
Bayern Munich: 25/48






