Arsenal-Bayern Munich is a match valid for the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals and is played Tuesday at 9 p.m.: TV, streaming, lineups, predictions.
Among the most fascinating challenges that give these Champions League quarterfinals – unfortunately without more Italian teams – is obviously the one between Arsenal and Bayern Munich, perhaps second only to the “anticipated final” between Real Madrid and Manchester City. On the one hand a team that is in the midst of a title race in the Premier League and on the other hand one that, after 11 years of dominance in its own league, is preparing to abdicate.
Yes, the Bavarians, now a long way from leading Bayer Leverkusen – the Aspirins are 2 points away from celebrating and taking the Meisterschale – have only the Champions League left. Without the cup with the big ears, the season would automatically become the absolute worst in the last 10 years. Thomas Tuchel’s men, in fact, were also eliminated from the German Cup and run the great risk of being left empty-handed. The coach, meanwhile, has already announced that he will pack his bags in May and in Bavaria there is a scent of “revolution,” as several players could also leave. Bayern, which has already given up on the Bundesiga – Saturday came the second defeat in a row, against newly promoted Heidenheim (3-2) – therefore makes all-in on the most coveted cup, relying on the scoring streak of Harry Kane (already at 38): Arsenal was one of his favorite victims until he wore the Tottenham jersey, with an impressive 14 goals scored in 17 derbies.
Gunners against bogeyman Kane
The Gunners, we said, are running on two fronts. And like last year, they have a chance to return to England’s throne after exactly 20 years
The victory they achieved over the weekend against Brighton (0-3) allowed them to return to the top of the standings, albeit on equal points with Liverpool, and remain +1 ahead of defending champions Manchester City. In the league, Mikel Arteta’s team has almost always won in 2024 – the only draw being the one in the direct clash with the Cityzens – while it has encountered some more difficulties in the Champions League, where against Porto it came out on top only after penalties. The Basque coach has rediscovered Saka (already in goal last Saturday) and the aches and pains of Gabriel and Jorginho, who will be regularly on the field, are not a concern. Eight absentees, however, at Bayern Munich, which is without Neuer, Sane, Coman, Mazraoui, Pavlovic, Sarr, Boey and Buchmann.
The Prediction
Three Bayern Munich wins and one Arsenal win in the last four previous matches, all played in the Champions League between 2015 and 2017. The Gunners seem to be better off than the Bavarians, in a bit of all respects, and dream of serving cold “revenge” to the Germans. Beware, however, of taking Tuchel’s team for dead, as the Champions League is now its only lifeline. Arsenal should win the first round in a potentially spectacular match and one in which they will both score.
The likely lineups for Arsenal-Bayern Munich
ARSENAL (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.
BAYERN MUNICH (4-2-3-1): Ulreich; Kimmich, Upamecano, Kim, Davies; Goretzka, Laimer; Muller, Musiala, Gnabry; Kane.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1
