Bayern Munich vs Mainz 05: TV channel, live stream, team news & prediction

League-leading Bayern Munich host a Mainz 05 side sniffing around the European places in the Bundesliga on Saturday afternoon.

Bo Svensson was thrust into the Mainz hot seat after Bayern romped to a 5-2 victory in this fixture last January. Since the 42-year-old's appointment only four teams in Germany's top flight have collected more points, and only Bayern have conceded fewer goals among the ever-present clubs.

Here's all you need to know about this meeting between the established and the resurgent.

How to watch Bayern Munich vs Mainz on TV/live stream

When is kick off? Saturday 11 December, 14:30 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? Allianz Arena
TV channel/live stream? ESPN+ (US), Sportsnet (Canada)
Highlights? Bundesliga YouTube Channel
Referee? TBC
VAR? TBC

Bayern Munich team news

Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich were two of the key absentees in an otherwise full strength Bayern side that steamrollered Barcelona on Wednesday night.

Kimmich won't play again this year as he recovers from the effects of Covid-19, while Goretzka has been carrying a niggling injury that has punctuated his availability for training.

Serge Gnabry was sidelined with an adductor issue that was described as 'slight' but Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting may miss out until 2022 after a bout of Covid-19.

Midfielders Michael Cuisance and Marcel Sabitzer are also likely to be unavailable.

You can read Bayern Munich's predicted lineup here.

Mainz team news

Mainz have been deprived of their fleet-footed centre-back Jerry St Juste since the start of October as he continues to be sidelined with a shoulder injury. Fellow defender Anderson Lucoqui (knee) is another to be ruled out until the new year while Dominik Kohr has spent the past two weeks in the treatment room with a hamstring injury.

Bayern Munich vs Mainz head-to-head record

Svensson's only meeting with Bayern was a 2-1 victory at home to the Bavarians in the closing stages of the previous campaign. That win ended a run of seven consecutive defeats for Mainz in this rivalry.

Overall, Bayern have claimed the overwhelming majority of victories when these sides meet, winning 22 of 30 Bundesliga matches. Europe's most prolific side this season have only failed to find the net in one of their league meetings against Mainz, averaging 2.8 goals against 05.

Bayern Munich vs Mainz score prediction

For all of Mainz's remarkable improvements under Svensson - upholding the tradition of exciting young coaches at a club that produced Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel - Bayern remain the golden standard.

Defeats to Eintracht Frankfurt and Augsburg this season certainly show the Bavarians aren't infallible, but over the past week Bayern have rattled three past both Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona and they should pick up another straightforward win here.

Prediction: Bayern Munich 3-1 Mainz