Bayern Munich continued their perfect start to the new Bundesliga season with a 5-1 drubbing of Wolfsburg in midweek. The win left Pep Guardiola's Bavarians sat alone at the top of the table for the first time this season, as Borussia Dortmund dropped their first points away to struggling Hoffenheim. The defending champions will look to extend their winning streak away at Mainz on Saturday, with Martin Schmidt's side having made a mixed start to their campaign.
Bayern Munich vs. Mainz 2015 live stream: Game time, TV schedule and how to watch online
Bayern Munich will look to maintain their perfect start to the new season away at Mainz on Saturday.
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Mainz are currently down in ninth place, having won and lost half of their games so far this season. They went down 1-0 to Bayer Leverkusen in midweek, with Javier Hernández netting the game's only goal midway through the second half. They certainly aren't a team without talent, and star man Yunus Mallı has netted five goals in six Bundesliga appearances, though it'd still come as a big upset if they managed to avoid defeat in this match.
Key player: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern)
Robert Lewandowski netted the fastest hat-trick in Bundesliga history after coming off the bench against Wolfsburg in midweek. Then he broke the record for the fastest four- and five-goal hauls too. In all, he netted five goals in nine minutes, utterly devastating the Wolfsburg defense. It’s hard to see Pep Guardiola dropping him back to the bench after such an impressive performance, and the Mainz back line must be quaking in their boots at the prospect of facing him.
Recent history
Recent history suggests Mainz should be afraid. They’ve lost every single game they’ve played against Bayern since November 2011, when a brace from Daniel van Buyten wasn’t enough to stop Jupp Heynckes’ side losing 3-2 to a Mainz side coached by the now-Borussia Dortmund manager, Thomas Tüchel.
Mainz 05 injuries and suspensions
Out: Fabian Frei (hamstring), Maximilian Beister, Elkin Soto (knee). In doubt: None.
Bayern Munich injuries and suspensions
Out: Franck Ribéry (ankle), Holger Badstuber, Arjen Robben (thigh), Jan Kirchhoff (achilles), Medhi Benatia (thigh). In doubt: None.
Mainz will be without Fabian Frei, Max Beister and Elkin Soto, though otherwise have a full-strength team available. Pep Guardiola has no new injuries to contend with: he’s without wingers Franck Ribéry and Arjen Robben, and defenders Holger Badstuber, Jan Kirchhoff and Mehdi Benatia.
Match Date/Time: Sat., 9:30 a.m. ET, 3:30 p.m. local
Venue: Coface Arena, Mainz, Germany
TV: Fox Sports 2 (U.S. - English)
Online: Fox Sports GO, Fox Soccer 2Go (U.S.), Sportsnet World Now (Canada)
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