Boom or go bust fixture for Barcelona as they launch a gigantic battle with Bayern Munich in anticipation of a win that will take them to the last 16 stages of the Champions League. Anything other than a victory will eliminate them from the competition group stages after 18 years.
BAY vs FCB Match Details :
When: Wednesday, December 7/ Thursday, December 8
Time: 21:00 (BST)/ 01:30 (IST)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
BAY vs FCB Match Preview :
Julian Nagelsmann's side confirmed their place in the latter stages of the competition last month so have little to do with this fixture. They are confirmed winners of Group E with five wins out of five so far, 19 goals scored and only three conceded. No team has scored more than Bayern Munich in the group stages of the 2021/22 Champions League season. The Bundesliga giants brushed aside Barcelona in the opening game and then went on to do the same against Dynamo Kyiv and Benfica respectively. It wasn't smooth sailing everytime but the dominance remained intact. Undoubtedly, Robert Lewandowski scored a plethora of those goals including a hat trick against Benfica that took his tally to nine in the competition. With a 3-2 win in a controversially ignited Der Klassiker at the weekend, Bayern have strengthened their reach in the domestic chart too giving them flexibility on both fronts.
But the game headliners, for obvious reason, is on FC Barcelona. The club that has fought gallant matches in the competition marking themselves as feared opposition are now struggling to even escape the mere group stages. After Ronald Koeman's pathetic start to the campaign with back to back losses to Bayern and Benfica with an aggregate scoreline of 6-0, Barcelona have manged to turn around with double header wins over Dynamo Kyiv. Then under Xavi's reign, the Catalan giants had their heart in their mouth when Haris Seferovic almost sent Benfica to the last 16 at Camp Nou only for his howling miss giving them a second chance. Barca sits second with 7 points ahead of Benfica in third on 6 points but the Portugese side sustain a better head to head record against them. Xavi has to manage his side to a win against an opposition that has lost only thrice in all competitions and wish for a an unlikely Dynamo Kyiv victory over Benfica in the other fixture. Barcelona will be relegated to the Europa League even if Jorge Jesus men manages a draw which will be ludicrous for that competition but not for the prestige of the club. Stakes are tremendously high.
Recent Form (all competitions)
BAY: WLWWW
FCB: LWDWW
BAY vs FCB Team News :
Julian Nagelsmann provided injury updates on key players that may plague the issue for Bayern against Barcelona. However, he said he will play with the best possible team even though this encounter means less for them. Former Schalke man Leon Goretzka had to stop training again with his injury coming back while luck ran out with Serge Gnabry too as the winger sustained an adductor problem in the Der Klassiker at the weekend. Joshua Kimmich is still in his quarantine period and has to return a negative test on Wednesday but no way will be available for the match. Chupo Moting is still has a few problems to care about as his Marcel Sabitzer, the player brought from Leipzig in the summer training individually and taking time to get fit. Other than that, Lucas Hernandez is a doubt to be offered any minutes in the match.
Xavi has no fresh injuries to think about from the domestic league outing against Real Betis. Sergi Roberto will undergo his surgery soon while Pedri, Martin Braithwaite, Moussa Wage and Sergio Aguero stay the long-term absentees. Ansu Fati is willing to be back soon but has failed to be fit in time for this fixture so he will sit out too. The good news in the Catalan locker room is that Gavi has not shown any sign of concussion problem after taking to hospital for a knock on his head in the weekend game. However, it won't be feasible for him to start the game even though he was able to train normally. Frenkie De Jong and Ousmane Dembele are expected to be in the starting eleven to show their mark in this vital game for FC Barcelona. Xavi has gone for the talented Ilias Akhomach because of Ez Abde not being registered for the Champions League squad.
BAY vs FCB Expected Lineups :
Bayer Munich: Manuel Neuer; Benjamin Pavard, Niklas Sule, Tanguy Nianzou, Alfonso Davies, Jamal Musiala, Corentin Tolisso, Kingsley Coman, Thomas Muller, Leroy Sane, Robert Lewandowski
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Serginio Dest, Ronald Araujo, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Nico Gonzalez, Sergio Busquets, Frenkie De Jong, Ousmane Dembele, Memphis Depay, Phillipe Coutinho
BAY vs FCB has to Head :
Barcelona have never won at Munich facing Bayern each time in Europe, not in the Champions League or its preceding competitions. They have conceded seven goals and scored only twice in the last two visits to the Allianz Arena. Also, they are winless against the German giants since their 3-0 win over them at Camp Nou in the 2015 semifinals. The reverse game in this group ended in Bayern's favor after they inflicted the worst defeat in Europe for Barcelona in 8-2 mauling last year.
BAY vs FCB Dream11 Team Prediction :
GK: Neuer (BAY)
DEF: Dest (FCB), Sule (BAY), Araujo (FCB), Davies (BAY)
MID: Nico (FCB), Busquets (FCB), Muller (BAY)
FW: Sane (BAY), Lewandowski (BAY), Memphis (FCB)
Match Prediction: Bayern Munich 3-1 Barcelona
Xavi has placed this game as a final and quite rightly so and pledged to break the history at this venue to make one. But it is cataclysm to see Barcelona at this state and evidently, this Bayern Munich team will be too much for them. The Catalan giants can only hope for a Benfica defeat in Lisbon otherwise Europa League is the becon for them.
