Home for the holidays

Munich - 'Tis the season to be with family, friends, and neighbors - and that's what's headlining the local sports scene.

Both FC Bayern Basketball and EHC Munich ice hockey will host Bavarian derby matches right before the calendar turns. 

Bayern will entertain BBC Bayreuth tonight at a sold-out Audi Dome, tip-off at 18:05 live on sport1 TV.  (Editor's note: You can follow the game on Twitter with TMT Sports' Salman Mitha @sal_TMT_sports)

EHC and the Augsburg Panthers battle in a sold-out Olympiahalle tomorrow night, face-off at 19:30.  (Follow TMT Sports reporter Gabriel Nounna live from the game on Twitter @gabe_TMT_sports)

The Panthers come into this highly anticipated game trailing Munich by 5 points in the DEL standings having won their last two games, both at home.  They have lost their two games on the road, including at Nuremberg against the Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers 3-2 in OT.

EHC have also won two-in-a-row, last defeating the Ice Tigers 4-2 Wednesday night.  Brandon Dietrich and Mike Kompon scored the winning goals.  They now focus their attention on winning the first professional hockey match at the famed Olympiahalle in 18 years.  The Panthers have defeated EHC two times already this season, but both have been in Augsburg.

"The motivation will be tremendous for us," said EHC Sports Director Christian Winkler.  "Not only win this match in front of all the fans, but against a team, in a derby match, that has already beaten us."

Head coach Pat Cortina sat down with TMT Sports in the latest edition of the SOS Podcast to talk about "Volle Halle".

Bayern Basketball will look to bounce back from their derby loss last week against the s.Oliver Baskets, and hope to continue their strong home-court advantage against Bayreuth.  The Ballers are tied for a league-best 7-1 home record.

"Bayreuth is a strong team that can beat any team in the league," warns Bayern head coach Dirk Bauermann.  "We are looking forward to a tough battle and exciting match."