Barcelona are gearing up to host one of their fiercest European rivals, Bayern Munich, in a highly anticipated clash on Matchday 3 of the Champions League.
Barcelona have made a sensational start to life under Hansi Flick, but it is time for their toughest test of the new season as they host Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League. The Bavarian giants have dominated the Spanish outfit in European fixtures, and this promises to be a mouthwatering clash.
While the Blaugrana are top of the table in La Liga, they have had a mixed start in the UEFA Champions League and find themselves mid-table with one win and one defeat. They kick-started their European campaign with a shocking defeat at the hands of AS Monaco but did return to winning ways against BSC Young Boys on Matchday 2.
Barcelona are heading into this clash against Bayern Munich on the back of a 5-1 win over Sevilla. However, this promises to be a completely different challenge against a team that tends to get the better of them on most occasions.
More importantly, this fixture comes just a few days prior to El Clasico, and the result here could have a big impact on their morale heading into the game against Real Madrid. Meanwhile, after failing to win the league last time out, Bayern are back at the top.
While their league form has been impressive and they started their UEFA Champions League campaign with a 9-2 win over Dinamo Zagreb, Vincent Komapny’s suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Aston Villa on Matchday 2. They will have to put up a much-improved performance against Barcelona.
Bayern Munich are heading into this one on the back of a 4-0 win over VfB Stuttgart, which will surely be a massive boost for them. The German outfit will consider themselves as favourites as they have won 10 out of the 13 meetings between the two teams.
The two teams last met during the 2022/23 season group stage. Bayern Munich won both home and away, scoring five goals without conceding even once. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
Barcelona
Hansi Flick will be without the services of Ferran Torres, Marc Bernal, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Ronald Araujo, and Andreas Christensen. The home side have already received a massive boost as Frenkie De Jong is expected to be 100%, while Dani Olmo, Fermin Lopez and Gavi are back in the mix with the latter making a cameo appearance in their last outing.
Flick should go ahead with the 4-2-3-1 formation as he gears up to face his former club. Wojciech Szczęsny is available for selection, but the manager is expected to stick with Inaki Pena in goal.
Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde should be the full-backs, while Inigo Martinez and Pau Cubarsi should be the centre-back pairing. The Catalan giants last kept a clean sheet against Bayern Munich back in May 2015, and the back four will surely try to end that drought.
De Jong could be handed a start here alongside Pedri. The duo should form the double pivot in front of the backline. They will try to control the tempo and ensure they have the majority of the ball.
Dani Olmo should return to the starting XI and take up the number ten role, with Lamine Yamal and Raphinha taking charge on the flanks. Former Bayern Munich talisman Robert Lewandowski will lead the line for Barcelona against his ex-club.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Pena; Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Dani Olmo, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich will be without the services of Aleksandar Pavlovic, Josip Stanisic, and Sacha Boey. Apart from the trio, star attacker Jamal Musiala is also expected to be unavailable as he deals with a hip injury. Hiroki Ito is also a doubt for this one.
Vincent Kompany will stick to the 4-2-3-1 formation, where Manuel Neuer will continue in goal. With Joshua Kimmich expected to start in midfield, Konrad Laimer should feature on the right side of the defence. Dayot Upamecano should partner Kim Min-jae in the heart of the defence, while Alphonso Davies should continue as the left-back.
With Pavlovic unavailable, Joao Palhinha will pair up with Kimmich in the centre of the park. The duo will not only shield the backline but also look to control the tempo. Serge Gnabry and Michael Olise will feature as the wingers for the home team, while Thomas Muller will be the attacking midfielder. England skipper Harry Kane, who has been scoring goals for fun since joining Bayern, will continue to lead the line.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, Kim, Davies; Kimmich, Joao Palhinha; Olise, Muller, Gnabry; Kane
Key Stats
- Bayern Munich have won ten out of their 13 UEFA Champions League matches against Barcelona.
- Bayern Munich have won each of their last six meetings against Barcelona. The Blaugrana last beat Bayern back in May 2015.
- In the 13 fixtures against Bayern Munich, Barcelona have only scored 13 goals, while they have conceded 33.
- Barcelona have lost their last three home games against Bayern Munich. The last two meetings ended 3-0, while the one prior to that was an 8-2 thrashing.
- Only PSV Eindhoven (8) and Liverpool (6) have recorded more shot ending high turnovers in the UEFA Champions League this season than Barcelona (5), while the Spanish side has recorded the fourth-most pressed sequences (33) behind Manchester City (42), Bayern Munich (41) and PSV (37).
Player to Watch
Thomas Muller
Muller is already 35, and he is in the final phase of his career, but he still remains a key player for Bayern. In his nine outings this season, he has three goals and three assists. With Musiala unlikely to star, all eyes will be on the former German international, who seems to love playing against the Catalan giants.
Muller has been directly involved in 10 goals in nine UEFA Champions League games for Bayern Munich against Barcelona (8 goals, 2 assists). For a single club, the only player with more goals and assists against an opponent in UEFA Champions League history is Cristiano Ronaldo for Real Madrid against Juventus (10 goals, 2 assists). The veteran German playmaker will look to extend his record this week.
Prediction
Barcelona 2-3 Bayern Munich
Barcelona have been on fire in the new season. They have been a force to reckon with, but history suggest they do not really do well against Bayern Munich, even at home. They have lost their last three home games against the Bavarian giants, and things are unlikely to change this time around. The Hard Tackle predicts a hard-fought 3-2 win for the visitors.