FC Barcelona will host Bayern Munich in matchday 1 of the UEFA Champions League group stage. The club is still somewhat licking the wounds of the 8-2 defeat as there are many absences this time. Martin Brathwaite, Ansu Fati, Sergio Aguero, and Sergino Dest are just some of the names absent for this game. Jordi Alba is also a doubt as of now. Ronald Koeman might be forced to play a back three against the ferocious attack of Bayern.
The Catalans have gained seven points from three league games so far, not a bad start.
The league game against Sevilla got postponed, which is a massive blow for Koeman. He could not analyse his best eleven for the Bayern game, since players left on international duty. But it does provide the team extra rest for Tuesday, and could prove to be counterproductive. They sit in seventh in the league, three points off the top spot. Barcelona head into this game with a three game winless run in the Champions League. But they haven’t gone four games without a win in the competition.
Bayern Munich will enter this game with a 4-1 win away at RB Leipzig with Robert Lewandowski, Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sane and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting on the scoresheet. Gnabry got injured in that game, but they have enough firepower to cause problems for the blaugrana. The Bavarians have won their last five games in all competitions, and their away game run deserves respect.
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TEAM NEWS
FC Barcelona
The club will be without the services of Sergio Aguero, Ansu Fati, Ousmane Dembele, and Martin Brathwaite who are injured.
Sergino Dest is doubtful for the game as he’s working hard to come back. Therefore, Oscar Mingueza will most probably start in the right-back position. Jordi Alba is expected to overcome the knock he suffered during the international break.
Luuk De Jong is likely to make his club debut against Bayern. Moreover, Philippe Coutinho is expected to feature in the game as well.
Young midfielders Gavi and Nico Gonzales are also expected to get some minutes in the game.
Bayern Munich
Kingsley Coman and Corentin Tolisso will miss the game due to calf issues.
Serge Gnabry remains a doubt for the game, although Naagalsman said that the substitution was precautionary against Leipzig.
EXPECTED LINEUPS
FC Barcelona
Ter Stegen; Mingueza, Araujo, Pique, Alba; Busquets, F. de Jong, Pedri; Depay, L. de Jong, Demir
Bayern Munich
Neuer; Pavard, Upamecano, Hernandez, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Sane, Muller, Musiala; Lewandowski
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