Bayern Munich and Hoffenheim will face off in the Bundesliga curtain-raiser when the two sides meet at the Allianz Arena on Friday evening.
Niko Kovac will contest his first Bundesliga fixture in charge of the Bavarians against Julian Nagelsmann's side, after maintaining a 100 per cent start as head coach of the German champions with victory in the first round of the DFB-Pokal last weekend.
Bayern will be aiming to win a seventh consecutive German title this season, and with the majority of their squad having returned to full fitness following a post-World Cup holiday, Kovac will be eager to register an opening day win.
| Game | Bayern Munich vs Hoffenheim |
| Date | Friday, August 24 |
| Time | 7:30pm BST / 2:30pm ET |
TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch
In the United States (US), the game will be shown on FOX Sports 1 and livestreamed via the FOX Soccer Match Pass.
| US TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| FOX Sports 1 | FOX Soccer Match Pass |
In the United Kingdom (UK), the game can be watched live on BT Sport 2 on streamed live online via the BT Sport Live app.
| UK TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| BT Sport 2 | BT Sport Live |
Squads & Team News
| Position | Bayern Munich players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Neuer, Ulreich |
| Defenders | Hummels, Boateng, Kimmich, Bernat, Sule |
| Midfielders | Rafinha, Martinez, Ribery, Alcantara, Goretzka, Tolisso |
| Forwards | Muller, Robben, Lewandowski, Coman, Wagner |
Winger Serge Gnabry has been ruled out with a thigh issue.
Potential Bayern XI: Neuer; Kimmich, Süle, Hummels, Alaba; Martinez, Thiago; Robben, Muller, Ribery, Lewandowski.
| Position | Hoffenheim players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Kobel, Baumann, Stolz |
| Defenders | Brenet, Hoogma, Akpoguma, Kaderabek, Bicakcic, Posch |
| Midfielders | Bittencourt, Schulz, Grifo, Zuber, Vogt |
| Forwards | Joelinton, Belfodil, Zulj, Otto, Szalai |
Nadiem Amiri has been excluded from the squad due to fatigue, while midfielder Kerem Demirbay has an issue with ankle ligaments.
Dennis Geiger is expected not to play a part in the Bundeliga opener with a thigh strain, while the likes of Benjamin Hubner, Lukas Rupp and Andrej Kramaric are also injury doubts.
Potential Hoffenheim XI: Baumann; Adams, Vogt, Akpoguma; Kaderabek, Grillitsch, Zuber, Bittencourt, Schulz; Szalai, Joelinton.
Betting & Match Odds
Bayern are priced at odds of winning 1/6 according to bet 365, while a draw is available at 13/2. A win for Hoffenheim is priced at 16/1.
Match Preview
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It was business as usual for Bayern as they wrapped up their sixth successive Bundesliga win in May, and started the current campaign with a 5-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt to lift the German Supercup.
Robert Lewandowski has already been in top form following his hat-trick in that match, and Kovac will be eager to welcome back World Cup star James Rodriguez back to his side following an ankle knock he picked up in Russia.
New arrival Leon Goretzka could play a part against Hoffenheim, while Renato Sanches – who returned to the Allianz following an unsuccessful loan spell at Swansea – will also be looking to make his mark.
It is set to be an interesting season for Bayern following the disappointment of Germany's group stage exit at the World Cup finals this summer, with the Bavarians having a slew of German internationals at their disposal – Manuel Neuer, Thomas Muller, Mats Hummels to name a few – and they will be eager to put behind the misery of their early elimination.
Hoffenheim finished third in the Bundesliga last season to secure Champions League football for the first time, which has significantly raised the profile of head coach Nagelsmann.
The manager – the youngest in the Bundesliga – is set to leave for RB Leipzig following the end of the season but is determined to see out his legacy in the finest manner.
