Bayern Munich will host FC Copenhagen in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, looking to continue their impressive run of form in the European competition.
Bayern Munich have picked up four wins from four matches in the group stages and they will be firm favourites heading into the contest against FC Copenhagen. The Bundesliga champions are already assured of finishing atop Group A.
The Bavarian giants managed to pick up a 2-1 away from home when the two sides met earlier in the season in October. Bayern Munich will be hoping to grind out another victory against Copenhagen this week.
Meanwhile, the visitors are second in the league table with just one win from four group-stage matches. Apart from Bayern Munich, the other three teams in Group A have blown hot and cold, and all of them have an opportunity to secure their place in the knockout rounds.
Copenhagen cannot afford to keep dropping points if they want to book their place in the next round of the competition. So, with Galatasaray and Manchester United facing each other on Wednesday, Jacob Neestrup will want his charges to play out of his skin and get something from the game.
🎙️ Tuchel on Bayern's unbeaten run in the #UCL: "It's an impressive streak that nearly left me speechless. It proves just how strong Bayern are and how this winning mentality is such a core part of this club. […] We're preparing for tomorrow's match as if it were a do-or-die… pic.twitter.com/w9Zv6YvA4p
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) November 28, 2023
Team News & Tactics
Bayern Munich
The home side will be without Tarek Buchmann, Matthijs de Ligt, Jamal Musiala and Tom Hulsmann due to their respective injuries. Musiala is ruled out with a hamstring injury and de Light is nursing a MCL issue.
Bayern Munich are likely to shape up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Manuel Neuer in goal. Noussair Mazraoui and Alphonso Davies will start as the full-backs. They will look to help out in the attack and protect the central defenders. Kim Min-jae will start alongside Dayot Upamecano in the heart of the defensive unit.
In the midfield, Joshua Kimmich will start alongside Leon Goretzka. While Kimmich will look to break up opposition attacks, Goretzka will add physicality and drive to the midfield. Thomas Muller will be deployed as the central attacking midfielder here, and he will link up with the striker and help create goalscoring opportunities in the final third.
Kingsley Coman and Leroy Sane will start in the wide areas and they will look to add pace and flair to the side. Finally, Harry Kane will lead the line for Bayern Munich against FC Copenhagen on Wednesday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Mazraoui, Kim, Upamecano, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Coman, Muller, Sane; Kane
FC Copenhagen
The visitors will be without the services of Birger Meling, William Clem and David Khocholava. FC Copenhagen are likely to line up in a 4-3-3 formation against Bayern Munich, with Kamil Grabara in goal.
Peter Ankersen and Elias Jelert will start as the full-backs, and they will look to contain the Bayern Munich wingers and protect the central defence. Kevin Diks will start alongside Denis Vavro in central defence. They will be expected to keep Harry Kane quiet during the game.
Diogo Goncalves, Rasmus Falk and Lukas Lerager will start in the central midfield. The three players will look to keep things compact in the middle of the park and break up the opposition attacks.
Elias Achouri and Mohamed Elyounoussi will start as the wingers here, and they will look to travel the home site during encounter attacks with their pace and trickery. Finally, Viktor Claesson will lead the line for Copenhagen against Bayern Munich.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Grabara; Ankersen, Diks, Vavro, Jelert; Goncalves, Falk, Lerager; Achouri, Claesson, Elyounoussi
Key Stats
- Bayern Munich have scored 11 goals in four Champions League outings this season.
- FC Copenhagen have conceded eight goals in four Champions League outings this season.
- Bayern Munich have picked up five wins in their last six matches across all competitions.
- FC Copenhagen are unbeaten in five of their last six matches across all competitions.
Player to Watch
Harry Kane
5️⃣ goals
3️⃣ assists
1️⃣ Player of the Month 🏆@HKane was on fire in October 🔥⚽ #MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/lhQROXb6XE— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) November 26, 2023
The 30-year-old striker has been in exceptional form since joining Bayern Munich this past summer. He has 18 goals and five assists to his name in 12 Bundesliga appearances. In addition to that, Kane has scored four times and picked up two assists in four Champions League outings for the German club.
Harry Kane is a man in form, and he will look to add to his goalscoring tally against a vulnerable FC Copenhagen defence. Apart from his ability to find the back of the net, he is an exceptional creator as well. He will look to open up the visitors’ defence with his passing ability and vision.
Prediction
Bayern Munich 3-0 FC Copenhagen
The home side are certainly the better team here, and they should be able to grind out all three points with ease. FC Copenhagen have been quite vulnerable at the back and are unlikely to be able to contain the likes of Harry Kane and Leroy Sane.
The away side will look to put up a fight here. But the gulf in class between the two teams is quite considerable and this should be a comprehensive victory for the home team. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-0 victory for Thomas Tuchel and his charges.
