•Barcelona vs Bayern Munich
The highlight of today’s Champions League fixture will arguably be Barcelona vs Bayern Munich at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys by 8pm.
Here are a few things to know about the elite encounter:
•Both European giants have faced off in the Champions League 15 times with Bayern Munich clinching the victory 11 times.
•The two clubs have 11 Champions League titles between them, with Bayern the most recent winners in 2020.
•Bayern Munich has dominated their last six encounters with Barcelona, scoring 22 goals and maintaining clean sheets in the last four matches.
These four contests took place over consecutive seasons when the teams were drawn in the Champions League group stage.
•Bayern recorded 3-0 victories both at home and away in 2021, and repeated the same scoreline on the road the following season, adding a 2-0 win at the Allianz Arena.
•This impressive run has led to Bayern scoring 15 consecutive goals against Barcelona, with their most memorable clash being the infamous 8-2 defeat of Barca in the 2020 quarter-finals, held behind closed doors.
•HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
Previous meetings: 15
Barcelona wins: 2
Draws: 2
Bayern wins: 11
•Venue:
The contest is to take place at Barcelona’s home, the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys
•Time: 8pm (Nigerian time)
•Possible line-up for both sides:
FC Barcelona’s starting XI: Iñaki Peña, Koundé, Pau Cubarsí, Íñigo Martínez, Balde; Casadó, Fermín López, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Raphinha , Lewandowski.
Bayern’s starting XI: Neuer; Guerreiro, Upamecano, Min-Jae, Davies; Kimmich, Palhinha; Olise, Gnabry, Sané y Kane.
•Last 10 Champions League meetings
Oct 26, 2022: Barcelona 0-3 Bayern (Group Stage)
Sep 13, 2022: Bayern 2-0 Barcelona (Group Stage)
Dec 08, 2021: Bayern 3-0 Barcelona (Group Stage)
Sep 14, 2021: Barcelona 0-3 Bayern (Group Stage)
Aug 14, 2020: Barcelona 2-8 Bayern (Quarter-Finals)
May 12, 2015: Bayern 3-2 Barcelona (Semi-Finals)
May 06, 2015: Barcelona 3-0 Bayern (Semi-Finals)
May 01, 2013: Barcelona 0-3 Bayern (Semi-Finals)
Apr 23, 2013: Bayern 4-0 Barcelona (Semi-Finals)
Apr 14, 2009: Bayern 1-1 Barcelona (Quarter-Finals)
•Hansi Flick on Facing Bayern Munich:
“Bayern is a first-class team, with excellent players, very dominant and with a lot of ball possession. But my players are very ready and are really looking forward to this game. It’s a difficult game for us, but we will try to do everything possible. We won’t change our way of playing.”
•Vincent Kompany on facing Barcelona
He praised Barca for finding a replacement for L. Messi, he said, “It’s exceptional for Barca to find someone like Yamal so soon after Messi’s departure.”
He acknowledged the work of Barcelona’s academy, La Masia, for continually producing world-class talent. “Full credit to La Masia for trusting young players like Yamal,” Kompany added.
Though Kompany respects Yamal’s talent, he emphasised that Bayern’s focus is on stopping Barcelona as a whole.
“We’re preparing to face the entire team, not just one player,” he said.
The contest between Barcelona and Bayern Munich promises to be thrilling as ever as both teams will face off under new regimes of new managers, Barcelona will hope to gather all three points in front of their fans at home.
