We're back under way in Germany. Mainz give away possession immediately as Pablo De Blasis fouls Dante.

Millwall almost sneak the lead just before the break as Angel Martinez shoots just wide on the half-volley. Two minutes of time added on.

Bolton have had a shout for a penalty when Rob Hall was upended in the box but the referee was having none of it. Darren Pratley then has a sight on goal but scuffs his shot. Just a few minutes to go now before half-time.

BBC Radio 5 live

Former Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy speaking on BBC Radio 5 live: "Liverpool have got into a pattern of buying people and then not adapting their style to fit. You saw it when they bought Andy Carroll. He was tearing up trees with Newcastle and their more direct style, but Liverpool wanted him to play a different system and the goals dried up.

"If you are willing to spend that amount of money on a player then you have to accommodate him."

Alan, Coventry: What would happen if say the winter break was four weeks covering the end of December into January and then all the bad weather was in February?

Join the conversation using #bbcfootball, external on Twitter, send a text to 81111 (UK only), or post a comment on the BBC Sport Facebook page., external

No goals after half an hour in tonight's two League Two matches. Southend and Burton are level, as are Tranmere and Cambridge.

Burton would go top overnight if they win.

Millwall have settled at The Den and Lee Gregory has had their best opening. He collects a long ball but fires inches wide of the Bolton post.

Bolton have three clean sheets in a row but that admirable run almost ended there.

It's Mainz who finish the first half stronger as Pablo De Blasis heads down for Shinji Okazaki in the box, but the Japanese waits too long and the ball is nicked away by the Bayern defence. Plenty of reasons for Mainz coach Kasper Hjulmand to be cheerful.

BBC Radio 5 live

Former Blackburn striker Jason Roberts, speaking on BBC Radio 5 live: "Raheem Sterling is not yet a striker, and you could see some of that with the chances he missed against Manchester United, but he looks like he is warming to the role with Liverpool.

"I think that the bigger problem is how Liverpool are playing. They don't have the same pace up front, the same urgency from the first whistle.

"Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert are more targetmen, than players who will run in behind.

"You have to look at the buys that Liverpool have made and they don't fit their style."

Yet another cross from Daniel Brosinski flashes across the Bayern penalty area. Bayern have had all the possession in this half, but they've done very little with it. Mainz on the other hand, have been industrious and ambitious. They're taking Bayern on.

Image source, Reuters

In about five minutes time Yunus Malli is going to realise just how golden a chance he has just missed. One-on-one with Manuel Neuer as a chipped ball arrives in the box, the winger tries to lift the ball home but his effort is tame and Neuer gathers. Five to go until the break.

BBC Radio 5 live

Former Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy, speaking on BBC Radio 5 live: "It certainly looks like Raheem Sterling is Liverpool's first-choice striker. His two goals against Bournemouth in the League Cup is more than the other strikers have showed so he deserves to stay in that role.

"Mario Balotelli is talented but his head is not in the right place. Rickie Lambert has played OK, and got a few goals but he has not got enough to dig Liverpool out of the hole they are in."

BBC Radio 5 live

Over on BBC Radio 5 live, former Blackburn strikers Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts are previewing the weekend's football action. You can listen using the Live Coverage tab at the top of this page.

Image source, AP

After seeing two goals in such quick succession we've reached something of a ceasefire. Bayern have been very patient with their 71% possession, but Mainz continue to show promise when they do get hold of it.

So far the greatest danger has come through Franck Ribery, on the Bayern left, and Arjen Robben, on the right.

Garath: The Premier League should do it like the Irish Premiership. They always have local derbies on Boxing Day. The Premier League is all about money.

Steve Howes: A winter break means break but the players would still be on Uefa-sanctioned friendly trips on the other side of the world.

Join the conversation using #bbcfootball, external on Twitter, send a text to 81111 (UK only), or post a comment on the BBC Sport Facebook page., external

It's the away side who are enjoying the better of the opening stages at The Den. Bolton defender Tim Ream has already come close with a glancing header which was well saved by David Forde.

Image source, Reuters

Mainz's lead lasted just over three minutes. Bastian Schweinsteiger curls in a fabulous free-kick for his first goal since April, the ball clipping the post in the top left corner on its way in. Loris Karius travelled a long way to try and stop it, but was well beaten. Great technique from the Germany international.

Image source, Reuters

This time it does count! A searching cross from the Mainz right finds its way to the left side of Manuel Neuer's goal before anyone makes contact and Elkin Soto stabs the ball home from a tightish angle. Neuer does not concede many, and that one is soft by his standards.

Matthew Turner: Excited about Eider Gudjohnsen's return to Bolton. He was a great servant to that club and also every other one he played for.

Join the conversation using #bbcfootball, external on Twitter, send a text to 81111 (UK only), or post a comment on the BBC Sport Facebook page., external

The flag is up again and this time Arjen Robben is denied what would have been a goal. He rounds the Mainz goalkeeper running in from the angle but the referee had blown.

Bayern have had 73% possession over the first 15 minutes of the game. Although Mainz have had a goal ruled out for offside too.