Bayern Munich will hope to keep their momentum going when they take on Club Brugge on Wednesday night.
The Allianz Arena prepares for another night of European football on Wednesday as Bayern Munich host Club Brugge in a UEFA Champions League group phase encounter. The German champions are riding a flawless wave of form both domestically and in Europe, while the Belgian outfit arrive as underdogs hoping to defy the odds against one of the continent’s most dominant sides.
Bayern Munich have started the 2025/26 campaign in relentless fashion. Vincent Kompany/s men have won all ten of their matches across all competitions, asserting themselves as early favourites not just in Germany but also on the continental stage. Their recent 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund, courtesy of goals from Harry Kane and Michael Olise, showcased both their clinical edge and tactical adaptability.
With 21 points from seven Bundesliga games, the Bavarians sit five clear of second-placed RB Leipzig. Their Champions League journey has been equally commanding: a 3-1 victory over Chelsea on Matchday one was followed by a 5-1 demolition of Pafos, leaving Bayern top of the league-phase standings. They have been nearly unbeatable at home this season, scoring 20 goals and conceding just two in five games at the Allianz Arena.
For Club Brugge, the trip to Munich represents both a test of resilience and an opportunity to make a statement. Nicky Hayen’s men may have lost 2-1 to Atalanta in their last UEFA Champions League outing, but they responded with back-to-back 1-0 domestic wins, over Union Saint-Gilloise and OH Leuven respectively, climbing back into the Belgian Pro League title race.
However, the gulf in class is considerable. While Brugge have shown defensive solidity of late, they will face an attacking juggernaut that has been scoring for fun. The Belgians have been inconsistent away from home, two wins, two defeats, and one draw in their last five road fixtures, and will need to produce something extraordinary to leave Bayern Munich with points.
Still, there are glimmers of hope. Brugge have scored in 12 of their last 13 away games since April, and if they can weather the early Bayern storm, they might trouble the German defence on the counter through players like Andreas Skov Olsen and Christos Tzolis. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich head into Wednesday’s clash with a few lingering fitness concerns, particularly in defence. Centre-back Hiroki Ito remains sidelined with a thigh problem, while influential full-back Alphonso Davies continues his recovery from a knee injury that has kept him out since March.
The versatile Josip Stanisic has recently returned to first-team training following a knee issue but is still short of match fitness and unlikely to feature from the start. In attack, Bayern are also without Serge Gnabry, who is nursing a groin strain, while Jamal Musiala is still in rehabilitation after suffering a broken leg during pre-season.
Despite their absences, manager Vincent Kompany has plenty of quality at his disposal, and his side’s momentum should see him retain much of the starting XI that defeated Borussia Dortmund at the weekend.
Between the posts, Manuel Neuer will captain the side and continue as the reliable last line of defence. The centre-back pairing of Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah will provide strength and aerial dominance, while Sacha Boey and Konrad Laimer are expected to occupy the right-back and left-back roles respectively, both contributing energetically at both ends of the pitch.
In midfield, the experienced Joshua Kimmich will anchor the side alongside the youthful Aleksandar Pavlovic, offering a blend of defensive control and forward progression. Ahead of them, Michael Olise is likely to feature on the right wing, using his creativity and flair to stretch the Brugge defence, while Luis Diaz adds pace and direct running on the left flank.
Harry Kane, deployed centrally as an attacking midfielder, will look to link play and draw defenders out of position. Leading the line will be Nicolas Jackson, whose movement and sharp finishing have added another dimension to Bayern’s attack this season. With Kane and Olise providing service behind him, the Senegalese forward will be key in breaking through Brugge’s compact defensive shape.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Boey, Upamecano, Tah, Laimer; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Olise, Kane, Diaz; Jackson
Club Brugge
Club Brugge travel to Munich with a few injury concerns of their own that could affect their balance in both defence and midfield. First-choice goalkeeper Simon Mignolet remains doubtful after missing the past six matches with an adductor injury, and although he has resumed light training, it is unlikely that he will be risked from the start.
His absence means Nordin Jackers is expected to retain his place between the posts, having performed solidly in recent domestic outings. In midfield, Ludovit Reis is ruled out until next month as he continues his recovery from a shoulder injury sustained in late September.
Meanwhile, Raphael Onyedika remains unavailable as he works his way back from a hamstring issue, though he could make his return in the coming weeks. Head coach Nicky Hayen will also be cautious with his squad selection, aware of the physical demands Bayern will impose across 90 minutes at the Allianz Arena.
Despite these absences, Brugge are expected to line up in their familiar 4-2-3-1 shape, relying on a compact structure and quick transitions. In defence, Nordin Jackers will start in goal, protected by a back four of Joaquin Seys at right-back, Jorne Spileers and Brandon Mechele as the central defensive duo, and Bjorn Meijer providing energy and width down the left flank.
In the double pivot, captain Hans Vanaken will anchor the midfield alongside Aleksandar Stankovic, offering both control in possession and defensive support against Bayern’s aggressive press. Vanaken’s leadership and passing range will be crucial as Brugge look to build from deep and exploit spaces on the counterattack.
Ahead of them, Cisse Sandra will operate in the attacking midfield role, serving as the link between midfield and the front line. On the wings, Carlos Forbs is likely to start on the right, providing pace and direct running, while Christos Tzolis, who scored against Atalanta on Matchday two, will operate from the left with license to cut inside and shoot. Leading the attack will be Nicolo Tresoldi, a technically gifted forward whose movement and hold-up play will be vital in helping Brugge relieve pressure and create opportunities in transition.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Jackers; Seys, Spileers, Mechele, Meijer; Stankovic, Vanaken; Forbs, Sandra, Tzolis; Tresoldi
Key Stats
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Bayern Munich have begun the 2025/26 season with ten consecutive wins across all competitions, marking their best start in nearly 60 years. During this run, they have scored 34 goals and conceded only six.
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The Bavarians have been imperious at home, five wins from five at the Allianz Arena this season, netting 20 goals and conceding just two. In Champions League home games specifically, Bayern have lost just once in their last 25 matches, winning 22 of them.
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Harry Kane has scored or assisted in eight of his last nine UEFA Champions League appearances, amassing 11 goal contributions (8 goals, 3 assists) in that span.
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Despite being heavy underdogs, Club Brugge have scored in 12 of their last 13 away matches in all competitions since April.
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The German champions boast a strong record against Belgian clubs in European competition, winning eight of their last nine encounters, scoring 27 goals and conceding just six. Their last home meeting with a Belgian side ended in a 5-0 victory.
Player to Watch
Harry Kane
When it comes to defining world-class centre-forwards, Harry Kane continues to set the benchmark. Since arriving in Munich, the England captain has seamlessly adapted to life in the Bundesliga and remains the driving force behind Bayern Munich’s extraordinary start to the 2025/26 campaign.
Kane’s impact goes beyond his prolific scoring. With eight goals and three assists in his last nine Champions League appearances, he has become the focal point of Vincent Kompany’s fluid attacking system, a system designed to exploit his intelligence, movement, and vision. Whether dropping deep to dictate play or drifting between the lines to create space for wingers like Michael Olise and Luis Diaz, Kane’s footballing brain remains one of Bayern’s most potent weapons.
His finishing has been typically ruthless, but it is his leadership and composure under pressure that make him irreplaceable. Time and again, the 32-year-old has delivered when it matters most, his match-winning strike against Borussia Dortmund last weekend was yet another reminder of his clinical instincts and ability to handle high-stakes moments.
Kane’s chemistry with his attacking partners has evolved rapidly under Kompany. His link-up play with Olise in particular has been devastating for opposition defences, while his understanding with Joshua Kimmich in the build-up phase ensures Bayern’s attacks flow with surgical precision. Against a compact Club Brugge side, his hold-up play and aerial prowess will be key in breaking through a disciplined defensive block.
As Bayern Munich chase their eleventh straight win of the season, all eyes will once again be on Harry Kane, the man who makes everything click in the final third. If he continues his current form, another commanding European night at the Allianz Arena seems inevitable.
Prediction
Bayern Munich 4-1 Club Brugge
Bayern Munich enter this clash as overwhelming favourites, and rightly so. Vincent Kompany’s side are in unstoppable form, blending attacking flair with defensive precision in a way few teams in Europe can match right now. With Harry Kane spearheading the frontline and Michael Olise and Luis Diaz adding creativity from the flanks, the Bavarians possess too much quality for even a resilient Club Brugge to handle over 90 minutes.
The hosts’ dominance at the Allianz Arena has been near total this season, having scored 20 goals in five home games, and their intensity rarely dips in European competition. Their fluid transitions, crisp passing, and constant movement between the lines make them a nightmare for any visiting team, especially one that tends to sit deep like Brugge.
While Club Brugge have shown grit defensively in recent weeks, keeping back-to-back clean sheets domestically, facing Bayern Munich away from home is an entirely different challenge. Their midfield will struggle to contain Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic, and their defensive line is unlikely to hold firm under relentless pressure from Kane and company.
That said, the Belgian champions do carry a counter-attacking threat, particularly through Christos Tzolis and Carlos Forbs, who could exploit any lapses in Bayern’s defensive transitions. They may well grab a consolation goal, but the outcome feels inevitable.
