Bayern Munich vs Barcelona Predictions & Match Preview

Bayern Munich vs Barcelona predictions and match preview for Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League fixture. Read on for the head-to-head, team news and predicted lineups as the Catalans target a much needed place in the last 16.

Bayern Munich vs Barcelona Preview

Barcelona face one of their most important ever Champions League group stage games on Wednesday night in Munich. While few Barça fans seriously think they are good enough to challenge for the trophy this season, the financial implications of missing out on the knockout stage aren’t something they can really afford so there is big pressure on Xavi’s team to find a way to squeeze through.

The Catalan giants will go through even if they lose this game should Benfica drop points at home to Dynamo Kiev. However, should the Portuguese side win, Barcelona would need to win at the Allianz Arena to avoid dropping into the Europa League. Even against what is likely to be a weakened Bayern team, that will not be easy.

Barcelona come into the game on the back of a defeat too. They were beaten 1-0 by Betis at Camp Nou at the weekend, their first defeat since Xavi took charge. It wasn’t a disastrous performance but Barça’s uncharacteristic inability to score goals is a growing concern with just 4 scored in 4 games under the new coach so far. They aren’t solid enough defensively either to suggest they are going to come to Munich and shut Bayern out so the visitors really do need some players to stand up and put in big performances here.

They could have done with the likes of Ansu Fati and Pedri being available but much may depend on just who takes to the field for Bayern. The Bavarians have already won the group in utterly convincing fashion with five straight wins, 19 goals scored and only 3 conceded. They were far too strong for Barcelona at Camp Nou on matchday one and Julian Nagelsmann is unlikely to field a totally second string lineup here.

However he is missing a few key men such as Joshua Kimmich due to a Covid-19 outbreak. That wasn’t enough to stop Bayern going to rivals Borussia Dortmund and winning 3-2 at the weekend though. They do have 3 Bundesliga games to play in the space of 7 days starting on Saturday against Mainz so the Germans are likely to rest anyone who badly needs a break but they will still sense an opportunity to inflict real damage on one of their primary European rivals.

Head to Head

• Bayern won 3-0 at Camp Nou on matchday 1 in this group.
• They’ve won all of their last 3 games against Barcelona including that famous 8-2 win in Lisbon in August 2020.
• Barcelona’s last victory over Bayern was via a 3-0 margin in the 1st Leg of the Semi-Final in 2015.

Team News

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Joshua Kimmich are on the sideline for Bayern having tested positive for Covid-19. Lucas Hernandez is one booking away from a ban and should be rested along with a few other players but Bayern are still expected to field a relatively strong XI.

Pedri, Ansu Fati and Martin Braithwaite are out injured for the visitors. Frenkie de Jong and Gerard Pique should return having been left on the bench at the weekend.

Possible Lineups

Bayern Munich vs Barcelona Predictions

Score Prediction: Bayern Munich 2-1 Barcelona

Such is the contrasting states of these two clubs right now, that Bayern can probably afford to rest several players and still have too much quality for Barcelona. There have been a few positives for the Catalans so far under Xavi but in truth their performances haven’t been radically better than they were under Ronald Koeman and it’s just hard to see this Barcelona side having enough to go to Munich and get the win they need to guarantee qualification.

UEFA Champions League Match Previews

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