Bayern Munich will look to make a statement on Wednesday when they host Barcelona at the Allianz Arena in their final Champions League group-stage encounter.
The Bavarians have been assured a place in the knockout stages of the competition as Group E winners with five wins in as many games.
Barcelona will fight tooth and nail in Germany knowing that anything but a win will result in them finishing in third place in the group and heading into the Europa League Round of 32.
Under new manager Xavi Hernandez, the Catalan club will be desperate to avenge the 3-0 defeat they suffered in the group opener at Camp Nou.
Bayern Munich vs Barcelona – Team News
Bayern Munich
The Bayern Munich squad have been severely hit by Covid-19 in recent weeks, and as such Michael Cuisance, Joshua Kimmich and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting are all at risk of missing out again.
Marcel Sabitzer, Josip Stanisic and Bouna Sarr are all out injured, while Lucas Hernandez picked up an ankle injury against Borussia Dortmund at the weekend.
Manuel Neuer is a certainty in goal, with the backline of Benjamin Pavard, Niklas Sule, Tanguy Nianzou and Omar Richards expected to start against Barcelona.
In the Bayern Munich midfield, Marc Roca could partner Leon Goretzka and the duo will look to control the tempo of the game on Wednesday. Serge Gnabry, Thomas Muller and Jamal Musiala will offer a lot of pace, creativity and movement to the Bayern attack.
Robert Lewandowski is the club’s chief source of goals and simply cannot be left out of the Bayern Munich lineup. The Pole will continue leading the Bayern attack.
Barcelona
As for Barcelona, Ansu Fati has failed to prove his fitness for Wednesday’s game and has subsequently missed out on the travelling squad. Young Ilias Akhomach has been added to the squad. Pedri, Sergio Aguero, Martin Braithwaite and Sergi Roberto are all on the sidelines.
Gavi, however, is available after the head injury scare he suffered in Barcelona’s 1-0 La Liga defeat to Real Betis at the weekend.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen will be in goal for the Catalan club. Xavi could go with a back three of Gerard Pique, Eric Garcia and Ronald Araujo at Allianz Arena with Jordi Alba and Sergino Dest supplying width and pace from the wing-back positions.
Sergio Busquets and Frenkie de Jong are widely expected to make the Barcelona lineup, and the duo will have to be at their sublime best to win the midfield battles at the Allianz Area.
Gavi has been one of the rare bright spots for the Blaugrana this season and having been named in the squad after recovering from the head injury, the young Spaniard could be handed a start. Ousmane Dembele is ready to start in arguably Barcelona’s biggest game of the season and Xavi will hope for a strong performance from the tricky, fleet-footed Frenchman.
Memphis Depay has performed impressively in his debut season at Camp Nou so far and is likely to lead the Barcelona attack in Germany.
Bayern Munich vs Barcelona – Predicted Lineups
Bayern Munich Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1): Manuel Neuer; Benjamin Pavard, Niklas Sule, Tanguy Nianzou, Omar Richards; Marc Roca, Leon Goretzka; Serge Gnabry, Thomas Muller, Jamal Musiala; Robert Lewandowski
Barcelona Predicted Lineup (3-4-2-1): Marc-Andre Ter Stegen; Ronald Araujo, Gerard Pique, Eric Garcia; Sergino Dest, Sergio Busquets, Frenkie De Jong, Jordi Alba; Gavi, Ousmane Dembele; Memphis Depay
Bayern Munich vs Barcelona – Key Players
Bayern Munich—Robert Lewandowski
With 27 goals in 21 games across all competitions, including a brace to sink former club Borussia Dortmund 3-2 at Der Klassiker in the Bundesliga at the weekend, Robert Lewandowski is in red-hot form and clearly unstoppable at the moment. The Polish international will be raring to torment the Barcelona backline in Germany on Wednesday.
Barcelona—Memphis Depay
Xavi and co. will have their hopes pinned on Memphis Depay in front of goal. The Dutchman may have not scored in the five Champions League group stages games this term but he remains the club’s top scorer with eight goals. He’ll be desperate to prove himself on a big Champions League night.
Prediction: Bayern Munich 4-1 Barcelona