One of the most popular German football clubs in existence, Bayern Munich boasts one of the most loyal fanbases in the sport. Founded in 1900 by eleven footballers (soccer players to the uninitiated), they’ve since grown into a staple of the game, routinely packing stadiums with more fans than other clubs. With over 25 national titles and 17 national cups, Bayern Munich is looking to charge onto the field and straight into the record books. Looking for a repeat of their victory over Wolfsburg in the last term, Bayern is ready to put their turf to the test in the upcoming October match. With a record of 25 victories out of a total 34 matches, accumulating only five losses and four draws is an excellent record. While Wolfsburg stunned with a 4-1 victory, putting an end to Bayern’s undefeated run, the team is confident they will return to their glorious streak this coming season. 

Originally posted by nosso-futebol

Coach Guardiola, with two seasons of victories under his belt, has already begun preparations to take Bayern into its fourth championship. By focusing on possession based control, and a tight defensive game, Guardiola is confident in his ability to control the field. 

Originally posted by daleconcomba

By bringing in Xabi Alonso and Juan Bernat, both accomplished players in their own right, Guardiola looks to pad the loss Bayern suffered when Robben and Franck Ribery suffered injuries in the prior season. Though midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger’s transfer to Manchester United has left the team without a strong player and his accomplished leadership skills on the field, Guardiola is confident that with preparation and training, his team will be able to meet their rivals on the field on October 2-4. Fans are sure to enjoy a season of thrills as Bayern Munich prepares to outdo their previous records, and take home one more coveted cup.

Originally posted by squawkafootball

Pep Guardiola is entering his third season as the head of the Bayern Munich squad with high expectations. Despite having one of the best teams in Europe, Bayern has yet to live up to its potential the past two years. The pressure is on for Guardiola to lead the team to success and hit the ground running against the European competition.

Bayern Munich will face off against Olympiakos tomorrow as heavy favorites. However, the German champions have been riddled with injuries, so it will be interesting to watch how the team overcomes this obstacle.

Here is a breakdown of Bayern Munich vs. Olympiakos:

How To Watch

Date: Wednesday, September 16

Time: &:45 p.m. BST | 2:24 p.m. ET

Venue: Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis, Piraeus

TV Info: Fox Soccer Plus (U.S. Only) | BT Sport (UK Only)

Online Stream: Fox Sports Go | BT Sport Online

Form

Olympiakos: WWWDW

Bayern Munich: WLWWW

Team News and Lineups

Due to injury, Bayern Munich will be without: Javi Martinez, Arjen Robben, Mehdi Benatia, Holger Badstuber, Jan Kirchoff and Franck Ribery. 

Due to Injury, Olympiakos will likely be without newly signed forward El Fardou Ben Nahbouhane.

Odds (From Odds Shark)

Olympiakos: 650

Draw: 350

Bayern Munich: -260

Bayern Munich enters the 2015 - 2016 season with high expectations. They have an incredibly deep roster, with multiple options at seemingly every position. Having such a large squad is beneficial, in that it leads to great competition within the squad and it allows the team to stay fresh over the course of the season.

But while a humongous squad is good for the team as a whole, it also means that many great players will inevitably find themselves sitting on the bench struggling to get into the game.

As this Bleacher Report article points out, there are several Bayern Munich players not only fighting for a chance to play but a spot on the sidelines. Here are three Bayern Munich players fighting for their future with Bayern Munich in the 2015/2016 season.

1) Mario Gotze

Mario Gotze has yet to play to his full potential, which we came to know when he played for Borussia Dortmund. While he has shown promise during recent performances for Germany, there is a great deal of competition for the position and Bayern Munich is unlikely to wait around for Mario Gotze to come around. The arrival of Arturo Vidal, Douglas Costa, and Thiago Alcantara has certainly put Gotze in an unfortunate position.

2) Javi Martinez

Injuries have plagued the 27-year-old Spanish midfielder throughout his time in Germany. Under Guardiola, Martinez has continually found himself unfit or too injured to hold down a spot in the side. While the coach has stated he would ultimately like to play him as a central defender, currently, he has found himself behind a long line of alternative defenders and midfielders.

3) Franck Ribery

Franck Ribery has also found himself struck down by injury over recent years. This has led to Guardiola signing Brazilian winger Douglas Costa this summer. The move will likely keep Ribery out of the lineup, even when he returns to full strength. Time will tell if he still has enough in the tank to compete with Costa for the left wing, but at this moment it does not appear to be a likely scenario.