Group F was witness to a pair of fantastic matches in the first round of Champions League play two weeks ago. Bayern Munich went to Greece and outfought Olympiacos, while Dinamo Zagreb shocked all of Europe when they upended Arsenal to earn a huge upset win. Now those two victorious sides go head to head at the Allianz Arena, with the top spot in the group on the line.
Bayern Munich vs. Dinamo Zagreb 2015 live stream: Start time, TV schedule and how to watch online
With a win in this match over Dinamo Zagreb, Bayern Munich have a chance to get a big early leg up in their Champions League group.
Dinamo fans may be salivating over the idea of another shock win, but the odds of that seem far lower this time than they were against the Gunners. Bayern are injury battered, but they haven’t let that hurt their form at all. They’re performing much stronger and look much tougher to beat than Arsenal, and while Bayern aren’t utterly invincible, Dinamo will have a much tougher task at hand to try to take points off the German giants. Without the Croatian home crowd behind them, the task might be a little too tough for Dinamo this time.
Key player -- Thomas Müller (Bayern Munich)
Müller is always vitally important for Bayern, but on a day like this when Bayern’s midfield is looking awfully thin and shaky heading into the match, Müller’s versatility and all-around quality will be absolutely crucial. His ability to track back from the front and help add protection to central midfield -- and his ability to press to keep the ball from even getting that far -- will be the key to Bayern’s game plan, especially since he can do all those things without sacrificing attacking quality.
Key Matchup -- Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich) vs. Josip Pivaric (Dinamo Zagreb)
Coman was something of a surprise signing by Bayern when they snapped him up on loan from Juventus, but the talented teenager has made his presence felt in Germany since he arrived. He’s gotten more early opportunities on the wing than expected thanks to Bayern’s injury issues, and Coman has made the most of them, scoring twice in two league matches and looking impressive when he’s been out on the pitch. He’s got good pace and enough options in his skill set that he’s tough to defend against, so Pivaric will have to be on top of his game and constantly alert if he’s going to keep Coman at bay.
Bayern Munich injuries and suspensions
Out: Holger Badstuber (thigh), Medhi Benatia (thigh), Jan Kirchhoff (ankle), Franck Ribery (ankle), Arjen Robben (muscle issues) In doubt: Sebastian Rode (knee), Arturo Vidal (knee)
Dinamo Zagreb injuries and suspensions
Out: Ivo Pinto (hamstring), Domagoj Pavičić (foot), Gordon Schildenfeld (thigh), Leonardo Sigali (ankle)
Bayern are still dealing with a host of defensive injuries, but perhaps the most pressing concern is that there’s a good chance that neither of Arturo Vidal or Sebastian Rode play in this match. Xabi Alonso has had a rough season and Thiago Alcantara doesn’t always look comfortable deeper down the pitch, so if there’s any one area of the pitch Dinamo can try to exploit, this is the one.
Match Date/Time: Tuesday, 2:45 p.m. ET, 8:45 p.m. local
Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany
TV: ESPN2 (U.S.), Sky Sport 1/HD, Sky Sport 3/HD (Germany), Klik Sport (Croatia), BT Sport Extra (U.K.)
Online: Fox Soccer 2 Go (U.S.), Sky Go Deutschland (Germany), BT Sport Live (U.K.)
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