Barcelona vs Bayern Munich: Match Preview & predictions
Barcelona vs Bayern Munich: Match Preview & predictions. In no doubt the standout fixture of Matchday 3 in the 2024/25 Champions League league phase arrives in Catalonia on Wednesday night as Hansi Flick and his Barcelona side host his former club, Bayern Munich now spearheaded by Vincent Kompany.
There’s plenty of good feeling surrounding this current Barca team heading into Wednesday’s clash, but duels with Bayern in recent times, have brought out the very worst of the modern-day Blaugrana. The Bavarian club have won the last six head-to-head meetings, a run which includes the notorious 8-2 rout at Camp Nou in 2020.
Notably, Bayern have won the last four fixtures by an aggregate score of 11-0.
However, former Bayern head coach Hansi Flick has got his Barca side firing on all cylinders. The German has shrugged off the dysfunction of Xavi’s final year in charge of the Blaugrana and have turned the Catalonian giants into genuine contenders once more with La Masia at the core of their early success so far this season.
Barca thumped Young Boys on Matchday 2 to bounce back from their defeat at Monaco to begin the league phase, while Bayern are aiming to recover from their shock defeat at Aston Villa last time out. The two teams each recorded an impressive domestic victories at the weekend by four-goal margins and lead their respective leagues.
Here’s how we preview the classic clash between Barcelona and Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday.
What time does Barcelona vs Bayern Munich kick-off?
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Stadium: Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys
Date: Wednesday 23 October
Kick-off Time: 20:00 BST / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT
Referee: Slavko Vincic (SVN)
VAR: Tomasz Kwiatkowski (POL)
Barcelona vs Bayern Munich H2H Record (Last Five Games)
Barcelona: 0 wins
Bayern Munich: 5 wins
Draws: 0
Last meeting: Barcelona 0-3 Bayern Munich (26 October 2022) – Champions League
Barcelona team news;
Gavi made his long-awaited return from a long-term knee injury on Sunday, but Flick is unlikely to thrust the young midfielder back into his starting XI for such a high-profile fixture. The same goes for Frenkie de Jong and Dani Olmo, but there could be a start for Fermin Lopez, who appeared off the bench against Sevilla.
Inaki Pena will be favoured over Wojciech Szczesny between the sticks in Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s absence, while Pau Cubarsi will continue alongside the excellent Inigo Martinez at centre-back. Barca are currently without the likes of Ronald Araujo, Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen through injury.
Marc Bernal is a long-term absentee having torn his anterior cruciate ligament at the start of the season. Ferran Torres is also set to miss out again with a hamstring injury.
Barcelona predicted lineup vs Bayern Munich
Barcelona lineup (4-2-3-1): Pena; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Balde; Casado, Pedri; Yamal, Fermin, Raphinha; Lewandowski.
Bayern Munich team news;
Bayern were dealt a blow at the weekend as it was revealed burgeoning midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic had broken his collarbone in the victory over Stuttgart and will spend weeks on the sidelines as a result.
As usual, Joao Palhinha will partner Joshua Kimmich in Vincent Kompany’s pivot on Wednesday.
The visitors are also without the likes of Sacha Boey, Josip Stanicic and Hiroki Ito. Jamal Musiala should return to the matchday squad, but whether he is fit enough to start in Catalonia, is left to be see.
Bayern Munich predicted lineup vs Barcelona
Bayern Munich lineup (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Guerreiro, Upamecano, Kim, Davies; Kimmich, Palhinha; Olise, Muller, Gnabry; Kane.
Barcelona vs Bayern Munich score prediction;
It’s been a mismatch as of late when these two teams have faced each other, but Wednesday’s bout should be extremely competitive. Flick has got this Barcelona team roaring, with their 5-1 dismantling of Sevilla on Sunday providing further evidence of their current form going in this one.
Their cohesion in all phases will test a Bayern side that has also shown plenty of promise at the start of the new era under Kompany. They’ll also benefit from the tamer atmosphere of Montjuic, compared to that of Villa Park a few weeks ago.
It is certainly a tough game to predict, but the effect both of these managers have had on their respective teams should be evident. The battle for control will be fought throughout, with Barca’s pressing against Bayern’s build-up a sub-plot worth keeping a close eye on.
Given the returns of key players and how desperate they’ll be to rid the demons of previous encounters with Bayern, Barca could nick an enthralling game on Wednesday night.
Prediction: Barcelona 2-2 Bayern Munich
