Two European greats Barcelona and Bayern Munich collide with each other in the opening group stage game of the Champions League. The blockbuster fixture in Group E will be held at Camp Nou in front of fans for the first time in the competition after the pandemic.
Match Details
When: Tuesday, September 14/ Wednesday, September 15
Timings: 21:00 (local)/ 00:30 (IST)
Where: Camp Nou, Barcelona
BAR vs BAY Match Preview
Barcelona has started positively to the 2021/22 season in the post Lionel Messi era with two wins and a draw in their opening three games. Due to covid restriction problems to the traveling South American players for the World Cup qualifiers, the Catalan giants weekend game against Sevilla in the league was postponed. As a case, Barcelona haven't played since the end of the last month before the international break. Nevertheless, Koeman's second season as the manager has started brightly. Although they have conceded goals in all the games till now, Memphis Depay has been a wonderful figure in Barca's attack. The new signing has made three-goal contributions in as many games with his two strikes deciding the faith of the game. Sitting in seventh with seven points but playing one less game than the other, only three points off the top, the pace in the league has been set. Attention now turns to a far bigger challenge on the European level.
The grab of Bayern Munich on the Bundesliga title for a record 10th consecutive season seemed to have tightened up even if it's just four games into the new campaign. Despite losing few key players in the summer and bringing in some from the market with a world-class manager in making, Bayern have settled down quickly. With only the opening day draw against Gladbach at home a small spot on a tidy paper, Bayern have gained three points in five of their six games so far in all competitions. There have been minute issues defensively but the Bavarians have been goal-scoring machines. On Sunday they beat title challengers RB Leipzig 4-1 to define their class again. Youngster Jamal Musiala added another game to his growing popularity with a goal and an assist with Lewandowski already scoring his sixth league goal in four games. A side to be feared. Bayern sits second on the Bundesliga table, one point behind Wolfsburg before they begin their campaign in Europe.
Recent Form (Last three matches)
Barcelona: WDW
Bayern: WWW
BAR vs BAY Team News :
Barcelona are short in options upfront with Sergio Aguero (calf), Ousmane Dembele (knee), Ansu Fati (knee) and now Martin Braithwaite set to have surgery after suffering a patellofemoral injury on his left knee. Indeed, the home side of this fixture loaned out Antoine Griezmann back to Atletico Madrid with an option to buy for €40 million. It opens the door for new signing Luuk De Jong to start upfront with Depay and the returning Phillipe Coutinho starting on either side of the striker bought from Sevilla. Jordi Alba is expected to begin on the left even though he is carrying a knock while Sergino Dest may feature on the other flank. In his uncertainty, Sergio Roberto or Oscar Mingueza can start in the right-back role.
Whereas, Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann said in the pre-match press conference that only Tolisso won't be a member of the squad traveling to Spain. Serge Gnabry was substituted midway in the game through an injury versus Leipzig but he has traveled with the squad. He is in doubt to start the game so the excellent Musiala can step in. Kingsley Coman has also been part of the group but the manager is reluctant to name in the starting lineup. Any concerns of Robert Lewandowski not leading the line is brushed aside as Nagelsmann confirms the Polish goalscorer is alright to start the game. Thomas Muller is a name that will give the home support bad memories as the German boasts six goals in five games against Barcelona in the competition.
BAR vs BAY Predicted Lineup :
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Sergio Roberto, Ronald Araujo, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Memphis Depay, Luuk de Jong, Phillipe Coutinho
Bayern Munich: Manuel Neuer; Benjamin Pavard, Dayot Upamecano, Lucas Hernandez, Alphonso Davies, Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Leroy Sane, Thomas Muller, Jamal Musiala, Robert Lewandowski
Head to Head
Whenever these two have clashed on a platform like this, headlines have been created. Barcelona shrugged off the German giants at their last visit to the stadium in 2015 with a 3-0 victory through a certain Lionel Messi brace but fresh memories of this clash are from the latest meeting between the sides in lisbon last year. Bayern Munich handed the La liga giants the most crushing defeat in their history in the champions league with a scoreline of 8-2 in the quarterfinals on road to crown themselves as champions.
GK: Neuer (BAY)
DEF: Davies (BAY), Upamecano (BAY), Pique (BAR), Roberto (BAR)
MID: Frenkie De Jong (BAR), Kimmich (BAY), Muller (BAY), Musiala (BAY)
FW: Depay (BAR), Lewandowski (BAY)
Prediction: FC Barcelona 0-2 Bayern Munich
Bayern have shown little frailties in their defense but even after keeping only one clean sheet so far in all competition, they look solid. With Lucas Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard fit to start the fixture the little agony is possibly doused. Though the key strength for Bayern has always been the attack. Scoring an incredible number of 28 goals in just a few games till now shows their ferocity. It will be early for Barcelona to handle this.
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