On Wednesday, Bayern Munich will take on Arsenal at the Allianz Arena in a much-anticipated Champions League fixture. Both clubs are viewed as serious contenders for the European crown, currently held by PSG, and they understand that overcoming each other is essential on their road to glory.
This match promises to be a classic clash of styles: Bayern's high-octane attack, which has netted 36 goals in their last 10 matches, will face off against the watertight defence of the Gunners, who have yet to concede a goal in this year's competition. Mikel Arteta's side has made a brilliant start in the group stages, dispatching Napoli and Lille with relative ease. Meanwhile, the Bavarians stumbled unexpectedly last week after a rout of Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt was followed by a defeat to Viking.
All eyes will be on Harry Kane as he prepares for a significant match, one of his last outings before the Ballon d'Or ceremony. The former Tottenham striker has a knack for scoring against Arsenal, having found the back of the net 15 times in his career – only Leicester City and Everton have felt his wrath more often. Fans will be hoping he can crack the solid English defence that awaits him.
However, the Gunners have more than just a formidable opponent to contend with; they must also battle their own psychological demons. Arsenal boasts a dismal record at the Allianz Arena, suffering two humiliating 5-1 defeats and recording only one victory in seven attempts, a win that was overshadowed by the away goals rule in the 2012/13 season.
Injuries and illnesses are also impacting both teams. Bayern's head coach Vincent Kompany may be sidelined due to a viral infection, leaving assistant Aaron Danks to take on pre-match responsibilities. The hosts will definitely be without Michael Olise, who is suspended, and Jamal Musiala, who is injured. The participation of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer remains uncertain due to a foot problem. On the other hand, Arsenal will continue to rely on Ezri Konsa to fill in for the injured William Saliba, pairing him with Gabriel Magalhaes. Noni Madueke, who scored the winner against Nottingham Forest, is expected to edge out Eberechi Eze for a starting spot. Martin Subimendi has returned from injury and is ready to provide support from the bench, while Riccardo Calafiori will reprise his role on the left flank of defence.
Match prediction:
Bayern Munich 1:1 Arsenal
Expected Bayern Munich lineup (4-2-3-1):
Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Davies; Pavlovic, Kimmich; Karl, Gnabri, Dias; Harry Kane.
Expected Arsenal lineup (4-2-3-1):
David Raya; Jurrien Timber, Ezri Konsa, Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori; Bruno Guimaraes, Declan Rice; Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke; Kai Havertz.
