On Tuesday night with a tense Group E clash at Camp Nou, Barcelona and Bayern Munich kick off their respective Champions League campaigns. While Bayern’s perennial dominance in the German top flight continued, La Blaugrana finished third in the 2020-21 La Liga season, ensuring another spot in the group stages. Here is everything you need to know about Barcelona vs Bayern Munich football prediction, team news, and lineup for the first Champions League match of the season.
Team news
Barcelona
Luuk de Jong is expected to start following his arrival from Sevilla and Martin Braithwaite joins fellow attackers Ansu Fati, Sergio Aguero, and Ousmane Dembele on the bench.
Jordi Alba and Sergio Dest will both be evaluated, with the former more likely to start. This season Coutinho hasn’t played for Barcelona yet, but he may be required to line up in attack alongside De Jong and Memphis Depay.
Bayern Munich
After being substituted at halftime against RB Leipzig on Saturday Serge Gnabry will be evaluated, with Jamal Musiala ready to step in if needed.
Benjamin Pavard, Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller, and Leon Goretzka were all substituted in the win over RB Leipzig, but it was to rest key players rather than due to injury.
Both Kingsley Coman and Corentin Tolisso from France will miss Bayern’s Champions League kick-off match.
Barcelona vs Bayern Munich Prediction
For the visit of Bayern Munich, Barcelona has had more time to prepare, and they have had a strong start to the season, picking up seven points from their first three games. Bayern Munich will be confident of taking an early scalp in their most difficult group stage game.
The Bundesliga side has won five consecutive games, including a 4-1 thrashing of RB Leipzig in Leipzig on Saturday. Barcelona has started the season well under Koeman, but facing the team with the longest unbeaten streak away from home in the Champions League can only lead to one result.
Lineup
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Ter Stegen; Roberto, Araujo, Pique, Alba; Busquets, F. de Jong, Pedri; Depay, L. de Jong, Coutinho
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Pavard, Upamecano, Hernandez, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Sane, Muller, Musiala; Lewandowski
Our Prediction: Barcelona 0-2 Bayern Munich
