Bayern Munich vs Barcelona Preview

West Ham got the job done for us on Saturday v Chelsea. Yes, it was a lucky late goal but Bowen missed a sitter to make it 3-2 a few minutes earlier and The Hammers just about deserved to get the win. On Wednesday the Champions League group stage comes to a conclusion and the big match of the final gameday is Bayern Munich vs Barcelona.

Bayern are top of the group with 15 points from five matches and the bookies make them hot favourites tonight at 4/7. Barcelona are 2nd with just 7 points and they need a win to be certain of qualification. They are as big as 17/4 with some firms while the draw can also be backed at 4/1. Will Bayern break Catalan hearts, or can Xavi mastermind a first ever Barca win in Munich? It should be a cracker, check out our Bayern Munich vs Barcelona preview and betting tip below.

Bayern Munich

The Allianz Arena will be empty tonight due to Covid 19 restrictions. Julien Nagelsmann’s side also have some injuries and Covid absentees to deal with. They’ll be without Chupo-Moting, Stanisic, Goretzka, Kimmich, Gnabry and Sabitzer against Barcelona. The Germans have already qualified as Group winners with 15 points so their main motivation tonight will be knocking Barcelona out of the Champions League.

Bayern have had a couple of hiccups recently, including a 2-1 Bundesliga defeat at Augsburg last month. However, they are still four points clear at the top of their domestic table and they have won eight from nine at home in all competitions this season. Their last two home wins were narrow ones, 2-1 vs Freiburg and 1-0 vs Arminia Bielefeld. They come into tonight’s match on the back of a controversial 3-2 league win at Borussia Dortmund.

As is usually the case, Robert Lewandowski has been Bayern’s primary source of goals. The 33 year old Pole, recently robbed of another Ballon d’Or, is showing no signs of slowing down. He has netted 16 goals in 14 games in the Bundesliga and 9 goals in 5 appearances in the Champions league. He bagged a brace in the reverse fixture at the Nou Camp (Bayern won 3-0) and you wouldn’t bet against him finding the back of the net again tonight. Bayern aren’t watertight at the back (conceded 15 in 14 in the Bundesliga) but they have plenty of quality at the other end and they’ll fancy their chances of completing the double over Barca.

Barcelona

This is a massive night for Xavi and Barcelona. If Benfica manage to beat the Group whipping boys Dynamo Kyiv, only a win will be enough for Barca to qualify. Their record at Bayern Munich doesn’t inspire much confidence. Barcelona have never managed to win in Munich in the Champions League in four previous attempts and they were hammered 3-0 by them a couple of months ago. Last season’s 8-2 embarrassment remains fresh in the memory and they have a huge task on their hands tonight.

Domestically, it has been a struggle for Barca. They are only 7th in La Liga with 23 points, 16 points behind Real Madrid and 6 points off the top 4. At the weekend they fell to a 1-0 home defeat to Betis and they have won just three of their last nine in all competitions. In the Champions League they have scored just two goals in five games, both of them in 1-0 home and away wins vs Dynamo Kyiv. Depay has delivered 8 goals in La Liga but in the UCL, it has been a struggle for him.

Barca will have to plan without Sergi Roberto, Pedri, Fati, Aguero and Braithwaite tonight. Xavi still has some quality performers in his team with plenty of experience. Ter-Stegen, Pique, Alba, Busquets, Frenkie De Jong and Depay would get into most teams but they lack strength in depth and with the injuries they have, it’ll take a monumental display for them to take all three points tonight.

Bayern Munich vs Barcelona Possible Lineups

Bayern Munich: Neuer, Pavard, Upamecano, Hernandez, Davies, Tolisso, Musiala, Coman, Muller, Sane, Lewandowski.

Barcelona: Ter-Stegen, Garcia, Araujo, Pique, Alba, De Jong, Busquets, Gonzalez, Gavi, Depay, Coutinho.

Bayern Munich vs Barcelona Betting Tip

Nobody is giving Barcelona a hope tonight. Bayern are strongly fancied to get the win and even though they have to deal with some injuries, it is hard to oppose them. Barcelona are a team in transition and Xavi is still learning about his players. The fact that there will be no fans at the Allianz Arena is a plus for the visitors’ chances but it is impossible to fancy a team that has scored just twice in five UCL group games against a powerful side like Bayern Munich.

This should be a pretty comfortable win for the hosts and you’d have to fancy Lewandowski to get on the scoresheet again. He has scored four in his last three against Barca and he netted twice in Bayern’s 3-0 win at the Nou Camp. The Polish striker will be feeling hard done by after missing out on the Ballon d’Or again and he would take great pleasure from knocking Messi’s former team out of the Champions League. Nagelsmann has said he will pick his strongest available team so the 23/10 about Lewandowski scoring at least two goals looks a more than fair price.

Bayern Munich vs Barcelona Betting Tip: Lewandowski to score two or more goals @ 23/10

-DaveStevos