Bayern Munich-Barcelona is a match valid for the second day of the Champions League group stage and is played on Tuesday at 21:00
BAYERN MONACO – BARCELONA
NIn the terrible Group C, the one in which Simone Inzaghi’s Inter Milan fell, Bayern Munich and Barcelona already seem to have set the record straight. On their debut in the event, the Bavarians won the direct clash at the San Siro – the first – liquidating the Nerazzurri 2-0 and taking home a substantial slice of qualification. The Blaugrana did the same, but against the least equipped opponent in the group, Viktoria Plzen, destined in some way to be the sacrificial victim. The wrath of Robert Lewandowski, the absolute protagonist of this challenge given his long and glorious past in Bavaria, also fell on the Czechs: the Pole played the lion’s share (a hat-trick) in the resounding 5-1 victory over Michal Bilek’s men at the Camp Nou.
Now it is up to Inter to overturn this possible ‘diarchy’. But it is quite clear that whoever succeeds in this big match will have a clear path to the round of 16. Xavi and his team have a bitter taste in their mouth from the severe beatings they have received in the last two or three years whenever they have met Bayern Munich. In addition to the memorable 8-2 in the summer of 2020, another (open) wound is the 3-0 double that the Germans battered Barça with last year, also in the group stage, contributing to the Catalans’ humiliating relegation to the Europa League.
Since then, Barcelona have been heavily reinforced, acquiring the former Bavarians’ striker, who even in Catalonia never wants to stop scoring. He did it again on Saturday in Cadiz (0-4), the fourth win in a row for Xavi’s team, still unbeaten and second in the standings behind rivals Real Madrid. Muller and his team-mates have also been undefeated so far, but after their success against Inter Milan they put on the handbrake again in the Bundesliga, forcing another draw – their third in a row in the league – this time from Stuttgart (2-2).
Leroy Sané
The Prediction
Bayern Munich and Barcelona have scored back-to-back goals so far, particularly shining from the halfway line up. They should also put on a show in this match, which smacks of a direct clash for first place. It will be strange to see Lewandowski try to punish his former team. And it is not out of the question that, given his great moment of form, he will eventually manage to displease his old fans. It is likely to be a high-scoring contest, with at least four goals in total, in which the hosts are likely to avoid defeat.
Bayern Munich-Barcelona matchday squad
- BAYERN MONACO (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Pavard, de Ligt, Hernandez, Davies; Kimmich, Sabitzer; Gnabry, Muller, Sané; Mané.
- BARCELONA (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Koundé, Araujo, Eric Garcia, Alex Balde; Gavi, Busquets, Pedri; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Dembelé.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-2
