Two of the continent’s biggest hitters collide in Bavaria on Wednesday evening when Bayern Munich host Barcelona in a showpiece showdown at the Allianz Arena. Can Robert Lewandowski fire Barca to glory on his old stomping ground or will Julian Nagelsmann’s shock troops prove too powerful?
This stats pack provides all the resources you need to place a winning bet builder, with numbers behind goals, shots, corners and cards. So crack down on the numbers and get yourself a winner.
Predicted Lineups
Kingsley Coman is out for Bayern Munich this week, though the vastly experienced Thomas Muller is a more than able deputy.
Julian Nagelsmann likes to experiment with different formations, though little tactical tinkering is expected against Barcelona. Expect to see a more traditional 4-2-3-1 structure fielded against Los Cules.
Barcelona Coach Xavi is steeped in Blaugrana traditions and his favoured formation and team selected reflect that.
Barca won’t deviate from their 4-3-3 set-up in Bavaria and ex-Bayern star Robert Lewandowski should be flanked by Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha in the final third.
Team Stats
A glance at Bayern Munich’s stats without the proper context of results paints a picture of an unstoppable juggernaut, however, despite hitting over 10 shots on target p/90 and creating an xG of 3.12 per game, the Bundesliga champions have dropped points in each of their last three league assignments.
Bayern’s forwards have been guilty of profligacy at the business end of the pitch, though you get the sense that Die Roten could hammer just about anyone on a clinical day.
Barcelona’s attacking metrics this season make for impressive reading, though that news is hardly show-stopping given the embarrassment of riches at their disposal.
Barca are hitting 18.80 shots p/90 with 7.40 of those efforts hitting the target. That output has allowed them to win five fixtures on the spin and they scored 16 times during that streak for good measure.
Player Shots and Shots on Target
Leroy Sane (5.67 shots p90), Serge Gnabry (5.31) and Sadio Mane (4.20) form a dynamic triumvirate in attack for Bayern, though all three players are very similar in style.
Wonderkid Jamal Musiala brings a slightly different skill-set to the table, albeit in a slightly different position and the youngster has turned 2.14 shots on target per 90 into six goals this term.
Robert Lewandowski has transitioned from German to Spanish football seamlessly and the Polish veteran ranks top of the list at Barcelona for shots on target per 90 (2.86).
First-choice flanksmen, Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha are also hitting over 4.00 shots per 90, though their primary instructions on Tuesday will undoubtedly be to supply Lewandowski on the striker’s old patch.
Player Goals and Assists
Ex-Chelsea academy starlet Jamal Musiala scored the most recent of his four Bundesliga goals against Stuttgart on Saturday, however, Sadio Mane has failed to find the net in each of his last four appearances in the Bundesliga and Champions League.
Serge Gnabry hasn’t chipped in since Bayern’s 7-0 win over Bochum on August 21st. The usually reliable winger has scored just once in seven games overall.
Robert Lewandowski is already well on his way to breaching the 30-goal mark for the seventh straight season of his career. The 34-year-old needs just one more strike to enter double-digits for the current campaign in all comps.
Raphinha’s early performances have been more eye-catching than his goal contributions haul would suggest, while the unusually fully-fit Ousmane Dembele (2A 2G) has looked unplayable and been extremely productive so far.
Bayern Munich Cards
Joshua Kimmich is joint-highest at Bayern for cards collected in the Bundesliga this season, though his fouls per 90 figure (1.05) is notably low. That figure could climb when he pits his wits against players like Gavi and Pedri, however.
Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt has been committing more fouls p/90 (2.19) than any of his teammates, though his card count doesn’t quite reflect that. Watch out for his tussles with Robert Lewandowski on Tuesday. Benjamin Pavard (1.09) won’t be enthused about the prospect of keeping pace with Dembele down Barca’s left flank.
Barcelona Cards Drawn
Gavi (fouled 3.33 p/90) has been pulling strings with precision in Spain this season and fouling the youngster is often the only way to lessen his hold over proceedings.
The 18-year-old’s engine-room colleagues, Pedri (1.54) and Sergio Busquets (2.63), absorb their share of knocks too, and it will be interesting to see how that trio stacks up against Joshua Kimmich and Marcel Sabitzer in Bayern’s midfield.
Match-Ups to watch
Matthijs de Ligt vs Robert Lewandowski
Joshua Kimmich vs Gavi
Joshua Kimmich vs Pedri
Barcelona Cards
Barcelona’s XI isn’t exactly littered with hatchet men, though streetwise holding midfielder Sergio Busquets (1.84 fouls) has his means of disruption, and the 34-year-old has been booked four times in four La Liga appearances this season.
Ronald Araujo is the heaviest hitter in defence, while wingers Raphinha (0.88) and Ousmane Dembele’s (1.32) fouls p/90 figures hint at a remit to be aggressive out of possession.
Bayern Munich Cards Drawn
Joshua Kimmich (2.28) is a foot soldier built for midfield skirmishes and his appetite for the fray means he ranks near the summit at Bayern for fouls drawn p/90 (2.28).
Senegalese star Sadio Mane is Die Roten’s most prolific dribbler (2.89 p/90) and like all players of his ilk, fouls against him tend to stack up (2.22). Keep an eye on Mane’s duels with Ronald Araujo. Alphonso Davies’ thrusting sprints forward from left back could also land Raphinha in trouble.
Match-Ups to watch
Sergio Busquets vs Joshua Kimmich
Ronald Araujo vs Sadio Mane
Raphinha vs Alphonso Davies
Remember if you’re placing a bet builder for tonight’s game, to gamble responsibly by keeping stakes reasonable and sticking to a budget.
Good luck, and let’s see those winning slips.
