Bayern Munich vs Arsenal preview
The weekend has been particularly hard for Bayern Munich, whose 11-year dominance in the Bundesliga ended as Bayer Leverkusen won their first title in their history. However, such is the fast-paced nature of a football season that the Bavarians will have to pick themselves up to fight for the only trophy they can now win. After drawing the first leg 2-2, Bayern Munich will welcome Arsenal to the Allianz Arena. The previous match was an entertaining affair as the Germans played far better than their recent performances.
Bayern recovered their league form to an extent by winning 2-0 against Koln after losing their previous two games. That wasn’t enough to stop Leverkusen from securing the title. However, this could be a blessing in disguise as the team can now focus on the UEFA Champions League.
The Germans went toe-to-toe with Arsenal despite not having any fans allowed in the stadium. Raphael Guerreiro scored against Koln, which is a positive sign as he could replace Alphonso Davies in the game. The Canadian plucked up a yellow card in the first leg and is unavailable for selection.
Harry Kane has also been in fine form, scoring 39 goals and providing 12 assists. The Englishman scored in the first leg and will once again be the focal point of the attack.
Meanwhile, Arsenal also suffered a massive blow to their Premier League title aspirations over the weekend. The Gunners were put to the sword by Aston Villa, losing the game 2-0 at the Emirates. The loss has come at a crucial time as the club is involved in a multi-front battle for trophies.
To get their campaign back on track, Mikel Arteta will need a morale-boosting win. Winning away against Bayern Munich will be the perfect way to re-galvanise his men’s spirits. Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Kai Havertz will be the key if the team is looking for goals. However, the defence that has been so brilliant the entire season will need to step up again.
Bayern Munich vs Arsenal predicted lineups
Bayern Munich lineup
Bayern Munich’s injury list has been one of the reasons behind their underwhelming displays this season. In fact, Bayern only managed to field a strong starting XI in the first leg. Since then, Leroy Sane and Kingsley Coman have picked up injuries and are in a race against time to be fit for the clash. On top of that, Manuel Neueur also missed the clash against Koln, which has caused speculations over his availability.
With Davies unavailable, one of Guerreiro or Noussair Mazraoui will start, with the latter having the better chance.
Bayern Munich starting XI: Neuer; Mazraoui, Dier, De Ligt, Kimmich; Goretzka, Pavlovic; Tel, Musiala, Coman; Kane
Arsenal lineup
Arsenal, meanwhile, has an almost perfect squad to choose from. The only absentee is Jurrien Timber, who is now training as he aims to recover from his ACL injury. Martin Odegaard was also withdrawn in the second half against Aston Villa. However, Arteta said the Norwegian will be available for the game. The only concern remains whether he will be fit enough to start or only make a substitute appearance.
Apart from that, though, the Gunners can choose a squad that can easily beat any team on their day, something Bayern will be wary of.
Arsenal starting XI: Raya: Zinchenko, Gabriel, Saliba, White: Rice, Jorginho, Odegaard; Martinelli, Jesus, Saka
Bayern Munich vs Arsenal predictions
Both Bayern Munich and Arsenal are coming into the game under tough circumstances. While the former have lost the title race, the latter have suffered a massive blow in theirs. This tie in the previous years has been more often one-sided. However, for the first time Arsenal not only possess the better squad but also are in better form.
However, the Champions League is a tournament where experience has often triumphed over talent and current form. Also, Bayern managed to win a draw despite having no fans in their stadium. So, with the support of the Allianz Arena, the team has enough talent to get past the Gunners.
FootTheBall predicts a 3-1 win for Bayern Munich.