A pivotal clash at the Allianz Arena as Bayern Munich welcomes Barcelona and their former legacy goal-scorer, Robert Lewandowski to their backyard.
Bayern and Barca both are on three points after both got massive victories on Matchday 1 in the Champions League but while the Catalan giants shoved off Cadiz 4-0 in La Liga, Bayern dropped points for the third straight game in the Bundesliga with a 2-2 draw against Stuttgart at the weekend.
BAY vs FCB Match Details
Date: Tuesday, 13 September 2022 / Wednesday, 14 September 2022
Time: 21:00 (CET) / 00:30 (IST)
Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich
BAY vs FCB Match Preview
It was not an optimal result Julian Nagelsmann’s team desired before facing a giant like Barcelona, slowly rising from their doldrums, with another sloppy draw against an opponent Bayern were tipped to beat all day once again. Unlike the last two league games, the Bundesliga champions took the lead this time through their youngest ever goal-scorer Mathys Tel only to Chris Fuhrich draw the game level after Stuttgart dispossessed Bayern higher up the pitch with their intense press. Jamal Musiala slotting in his fourth of the season seemed to have given the home side control but then Matthijs de Ligt’s foul on Sehrou Guirassy deep into injury team lead to the penalty that the Guinean converted to silence the home crowd again. Three consecutive draws in the Bundesliga is not something Bayern are accustomed to and it understandably left a bad impression on the fan as well as the board member attending the weekend game. This result is concerning as it exposed the Nagelsmann team’s continued struggles in opposition’s systematic press with an even bigger threat arriving at the ground next nourishing that part of the game this season. Scoring goals has not been a factor for the Bavarians as they have found the back of the net on each occasion this season since their last blank in the Champions League itself in the first leg quarterfinal tie against Villarreal last season. Whereas sealing the back has been a problem which could result in a disaster if they don’t manage to foil their ex-striker reunion. Robert Lewandowski grabbed a staggering 344 goals in 375 appearances in a Bayern shirt before departing to Barcelona and while the German giants have replaced him with another star in Sadio Mane, a marksman like the Pol is missing from their locker room. Now, Lewandowski is the biggest threat for them on Tuesday night in his first meeting against Bayern since leaving the club. However, Bayern ticked off their first test in this group of death with a comfortable 2-0 win over Inter in the first group stage game and a loss in this early clash against the Catalan giants won’t jeopardize their chances of qualification but Nagelsmann’s side will wish to win it knowing their recent fabulous record in this fixture in the Champions League.
This is the season Barcelona have targeted to turn their disastrous past couple of season around with their financial instability almost rusting them to the very core. Now, with some economical plans drawn up in the summer amidst risk of the future Barcelona have once again flexed its muscle in the summer window and has brought a series of superstar signing including Robert Lewandowski for whom the return to the Allianz Arena is extra special. The 34-year-old showed he is very much up for the new challenge by scoring a delightful hat-trick in the 5-1 demolition job on Viktoria Plzen in the opening group stage game. Lewandowski became the first player to net a hat-trick for three different clubs and it took them to third on the all-time scoring chart. He has scored six more in la Liga having quality wingers in Raphinha and Ousmane Dembele feeding him the necessary service he enjoyed at Bayern as well. Hence, Barcelona have stayed unbeaten so far taking four wins from five and only trailing two points off rivals Real Madrid at the top spot. Barca’s main aim is to regain supremacy in the league and fight for the Champions League title they haven’t won since the 2014-15 season led by the famous trio of Messi-Suarez-Neymar. Whether the present trio replicate something similar is a wait to see but anything is possible for the team if their strike force continues to find the back of the net as they have done 20 times this season in all competition. The Catalan club’s first real test of the season is in the second group stage game against Bayern at Allianz Arena where they haven’t won in the last four meetings. Last time, Barcelona faced elimination from the group stages for the first time since 2000/01 season by losing 3-0 at this venue and has also won only twice of the total 13 games with the side from Munich. A grim record Xavi and his men are hoping to finally put to rest.
Recent Form (all competitions)
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BAY vs FCB Team News
Bayern Munich confirmed right-back Bouna Sarr is set to miss the rest of 2022 for his surgery on his patellar tendon issue. Along with him, Kingsley Coman is set to miss out on the clash through a hamstring injury and he will not return until after the international break. Center-back De Ligt will keep his position at the back despite giving away a late penalty last weekend alongside Lucas Hernandez in a task to keep Lewandowski quiet. Sadio Mane is willing to win the scoring duel with the Polish striker by getting his first Champions League goal for Bayern.
Xavi has a full squad available for the trip with Sergio Roberto also back after missing the game against Cadiz with a groin issue. New signings Hector Bellerin and Marcos Alonso have also made the squad after being offered minutes at the weekend game in La Liga. Left-back Alex Balde is likely to continue over Jordi Alba for this important game. Robert Lewandowski will start his seventh game against Bayern Munich having scored seven goals facing them while in Dortmund.
BAY vs FCB Predicted Lineups
BAY: Manuel Neuer; Benjamin Pavard, De Ligt, Lucas Hernandez, Alphonso Davies; Joshua Kimmich, Marcel Sabitzer; Serge Gnabry, Thomas Muller, Leroy Sane; Sadio Mane
FCB: Ter Stegen; Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Eric Garcia, Alex Balde; Gavi, Sergio Busquets, Pedri; Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Ousmane Dembele
BAY vs FCB Head to Head
Barcelona have not won against Bayern in the last four meetings in the Champions League and none in the group stages since their first such meeting in the 1998/99 season. Their only two wins in this fixture came at Camp Nou and only two draws away from home. Goals from Thomas Muller, Leroy Sane and Jamal Musiala compounded a 3-0 defeat to the Catalan giants last season while their only goal at this venue in recent meetings came in the 3-2 defeat in 2015. Bayern have only failed to score in this fixture in the same year.
BAY vs FCB Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Ter Stegen
DEF: Pavard, Araujo, Kounde, Hernandez
MID: Raphinha, Pedri, Kimmich,
FW: Dembele, Lewandowski, Muller
Captain: Robert Lewandowski
Vice-captain: Thomas Muller
Robert Lewandowski departed Bayern by scoring 69 goals in the Champions League for the team. He already scored a hat-trick in his first game for Barcelona in the competition.
Thomas Muller has scored 8 goals and delivered 2 assists against Barcelona in the Champions League, three more than against any other club and also three more than any other player in the competition against the club. He has 5 goal contributions in his last six CL games including a strike against Barcelona last season.
