Barcelona are on the cusp of a dramatic Champions League group stage exit and anything other than a victory for the Blaugrana against Bayern Munich this evening could seal their fate. The Bavarians have a perfect winning record in Group C after four games however, so expect the German giants to be on song at Spotify Camp Nou.
As per the usual routine, you can find our stats pack for this evening’s game below complete with info on cards, corners, xG, fouls, shots and more from Barcelona and Bayern Munich’s domestic campaigns. If you’re looking for help with your bet builders for today’s tussle, then you’ve come to the right place.
Predicted Lineups
Sergi Roberto, Memphis Depay, Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araujo are all out injured for Barcelona.
Hector Bellerin could make his first start in the Champions League this season at right back in place of Sergi Roberto. Frenkie de Jong is vying with Gavi and Pedri for a place in midfield.
First-choice keeper Manuel Neuer is still out for Bayern and Sven Ulreich will continue between the sticks in his absence. Lucas Hernandez is missing at the back, while Leroy Sane faces a few weeks on the sidelines with a muscle complaint.
Leon Goretzka or Marcel Sabitzer will partner Joshua Kimmich in midfield. Sadio Mane, Serge Gnabry, Jamal Musiala and Kingsley Coman should form a formidable frontline further up the pitch.
Team Stats
Barcelona recovered quickly from defeat in El Clasico with back-to-back victories in La Liga and their overall stats for the campaign in Spain look strong.
In the Champions League, Barca are on the verge of elimination despite racking up 17.5 shots per game. Xavi’s side have scored eight times in two Group C home assignments, though they allowed Inter to muster eight attempts on target in Catalonia on matchday four, three of which found the net.
Bayern Munich have lost just one competitive fixture this season and they are inching their way to the summit of the Bundesliga where they have been hitting a massive 20.82 shots and recording 2.82 xG per 90 minutes.
In the Champions League, the Bavarians have won four games out of four and only Napoli (9.3) have been averaging more shots on target per fixture (9.0). Interestingly, Bayern committed more fouls (12 to 8) and mustered fewer shots (13-18) when they beat Barca 2-0 in September.
Player Shots and Shots on Target
Former Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski has been in scintillating form for Barcelona this season and the veteran hitman is clocking 4.32 and 5.5 shots per 90 minutes in La Liga and the Champions League respectively.
Ansu Fati’s figures are also impressively high, though starts have been fleeting for the teenager and his stats per 90 are padded a little too much as a result. Raphinha meanwhile, has been lodging 4.14 shots domestically and 3.8 attempts per 90 in the UCL. The Brazilian racked up three attempts against Bayern last month.
Serge Gnabry, Sadio Mane, Jamal Musiala and Thomas Muller have all been prime performers in the Bundesliga shooting metrics for Bayern this season, though Gnabry (3.6 per/90) is the list leader in the Champions League.
Midfielder Leon Goretzka (3.5) has been running Gbanry close in the UCL, while Marcel Sabitzer (3.1) – who has started every group game so far – is also a useful option at longer odds.
Player Goals and Assists
Robert Lewandowski is averaging better than a goal per game across two competitions for Barcelona this season and the Polish frontman will be determined to make his mark on his return to Munich this evening.
Lewa has five goals in the Champions League and three Barca players (Torres, Kessie and Dembele) are the club’s next-best with one goal each. Dembele has also bagged two assists in Europe to add to the five he has secured in La Liga.
Jamal Musiala (6), Leroy Sane (5) and Sadio Mane (5) have all chipped in with five or more goals for Bayern in the Bundesliga this season. In the Champions League, Leroy Sane is the club’s leading marksman with four.
Sane scored against Barcelona last month, though he is injured this time around. Lucas Hernandez bagged the Bavarians’ second against Barca in September, but he’s also currently sidelined. Leon Goretzka has five goal contributions (2G, 3A) in just 203 minutes of Champions League football this term.
Barcelona Cards
Sergio Busquets has been a favourite among card bettors for several seasons now and the cynical 34-year-old has already been cautioned four times in La Liga and twice in the Champions League this term. Busquets was booked when he played against Bayern last month.
Ousmane Dembele should have more defending to do than usual this evening and the French winger has been known to commit a mistimed challenge or two (1.22 fouls per 90).
At right back, Hector Bellerin is desperately low on match sharpness and ring rust is the last thing any defender needs when facing Bayern Munich’s rapid frontline.
Jamal Musiala (fouled 1.97 times per 90) has become a key creative force for Bayern Munich and the 19-year-old will have Sergio Busquets nipping at his ankles this evening.
Noussair Mazraoui has been fouled once per 90 minutes in the Champions League this term and the Moroccan’s rampaging runs from right back could be halted by lazy tackler Ousmane Dembele.
Sadio Mane has been fouled more often (1.8 per game) than any other Bayern player in the UCL this season and he has the pace and skills to turn Hector Bellerin inside out today.
Match-Ups to watch
Sergio Busquets vs Jamal Musiala
Ousmane Dembele vs Noussair Mazraoui
Hector Bellerin vs Sadio Mane
Bayern Munich Cards
The midfield battleground promises to produce plenty of cards this evening and Bayern pair Joshua Kimmich and Marcel Sabitzer were both cautioned when the Germans played Barca last month. Both players are prime candidates to enter the referee’s notebook again later today.
Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt has been carded twice in the Bundesliga and once in the Champions League this term and his scuffles with Robert Lewandowski should interest card bettors today.
Gavi is slight of frame but robust of character and the youngster has been fouled 2.72 times per 90 minutes in La Liga this season. Joshua Kimmich will be getting touch tight to Gavi this evening if he starts. If not, then Kimmich is likely to struggle as much against the technically gifted Pedri
Dutch playmaker Frenkie de Jong (fouled 2.57 times per 90) could face similar treatment from Marcel Sabitzer at Spotify Camp Nou. Robert Lewandowski has been fouled 1.8 times per game in the Champions League since the summer and the veteran should get a warm welcome from de Ligt when he returns to his old stomping ground in Munich.
Match-Ups to watch
Joshua Kimmich vs Gavi/Pedri
Marcel Sabitzer vs Frenkie de Jong
Matthijs de Ligt vs Robert Lewandowski
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Barcelona could find themselves knocked out of the Champions League by kick off here, however, I’m not sure that’ll alter the quality on show in this game. Bayern will desperately be trying to claim top spot, and that in itself should make for a great watch.
Good luck to anybody having a bet on this. Remember to keep the stakes low and keep it fun.
