Location: Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany
Date: December 14, 2025
Kickoff: 5:30 PM Local time | 11:30 AM EST | 8:30 AM PST
TV/streaming: ESPN+, Find Your Country
Bayern Munich saw off Stuttgart and Sporting CP in the Bundesliga and Champions League respectively, and their next challenge is welcoming rock-bottom Mainz in the former competition. The Bavarians were slightly iffy over the past two months, but it appears that they’ve dispelled any growing amount of concern for now.
The Nullfünfer is having
a torrid season so far, sitting six points behind Wolfsburg in 15th place and Heidenheim in 16th place; Bayern will play Heidenheim next weekend. The Rekordmeister is in a strong position in the league and should be able to get the job done.
Team news
Defense
Although Manuel Neuer hardly put a foot wrong against Sporting, the threat that Mainz poses (or lack thereof) would probably allow another start for Jonas Urbig to gather precious minutes. The defense could also look a little different, with Hiroki Itō, who is now fully fit, trotting out for his first start in a long time. Alphonso Davies is back but throwing him in almost immediately isn’t the best thing to do so he’ll start on the bench for now. Joining him in the defensive line are the center-back pairing of Jonathan Tah and Kim Min-jae in the middle, with the reliable Konrad Laimer featuring on the opposite flank.
Midfield
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany has more freedom to tinker here and give the usual starters some rest, so Tom Bischof and Aleksandar Pavlović will get a chance to play together and see what they’re made of (well, most of us know but we’ve yet to see them as a proper pivot). Lennart Karl just keeps getting better and better so he’s a likely candidate to slot in at the 10.
Attack
The attack is just the same, bar one change. Luis Díaz is suspended for this match so that means Serge Gnabry and Michael Olise are lining up either side of Harry Kane up top. The Englishman will probably get subbed off in the second half, while the birthday boy Olise played the full 90 minutes against both Stuttgart and Sporting. That means there’s a chance that Raphaël Guerreiro will play on the left wing and shift Gnabry over to the right.
Possible XI
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