Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich: Classic Champions League Rivalry Reignites on Wednesday
A thrilling Champions League showdown is on the horizon as Barcelona prepares to host Bayern Munich this Wednesday.
Barcelona’s campaign got off to a shaky start with a 2-1 defeat against Monaco, but they quickly rebounded with an impressive 5-0 victory over Young Boys. Their momentum continued with a dominant 5-1 win against Sevilla in La Liga, setting the stage for this highly anticipated clash.
On the other hand, Bayern Munich kicked off their Champions League journey with a staggering 9-2 win over Dinamo Zagreb. However, they faced an unexpected setback with a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa. The German giants bounced back in their last match, securing a commanding 4-0 victory over Stuttgart, highlighted by a hat-trick from Harry Kane.
Team News
Barcelona will be without several key players, including Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Marc Bernal, Ferran Torres, Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, and Pau Cubarsi due to injuries. Inaki Pena is expected to step in as goalkeeper despite the arrival of veteran Wojciech Szczesny. The return of Dani Olmo and Gavi from injury provides a significant boost for the Catalan side.
Barcelona Predicted XI (4-2-3-1):
Inaki Pena (GK) — Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Balde — De Jong, Pedri — Yamal, Dani Olmo, Raphinha — Lewandowski.
Bayern Munich will also face injury challenges, with Aleksandar Pavlovic, Josip Stanisic, and Sacha Boey confirmed to miss the trip to Barcelona. Jamal Musiala is a doubt and will undergo a late fitness test for inclusion in the matchday squad. Konrad Laimer is likely to start at right-back in place of Raphael Guerreiro.
Bayern Munich Predicted XI (4-2-3-1):
Neuer (GK) — Laimer, Upamecano, Kim, Davies — Kimmich, Joao Palhinha — Olise, Muller, Gnabry — Kane.
As both teams look to assert their dominance in this classic rivalry, fans can expect an electrifying encounter filled with high stakes and thrilling football.
