Bayern Munich vs Barcelona

Bayern Munich and Barcelona are set to trade tackles in a mouth-watering UEFA Champions League Group E showdown at the Allianz Stadium.

Heading into the Champions League group stage finale, Bayern Munich came from behind to beat fierce rivals Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in the latest installment of the famous ‘Der Klassiker’ to move four points clear at the top of the Bundesliga table. The ‘Bavarians’ have already qualified for the Champions League knock-outs as Group E winners after winning all five group matches by an aggregate score of 19-3. That includes a scintillating 3-0 romping of Barcelona in the reverse fixture. Julian Nagelsmann’s men have netted a staggering average of 3.8 goals per match in the Champions League this season, scoring 3+ goals in each of their five Group E outings thus far. Since the beginning of the 2013/14 season, the perennial German champions have won 22 of their 23 Champions League group stage games at home (D1).

Therefore, Barcelona’s efforts to break their longest-ever losing streak against a single opposition in European football history could prove to be a tall order. After opening their Group E campaign with consecutive 3-0 defeats, the ‘Blaugrana’ have gone unbeaten in their last three in a row (W2, D1) to move two points clear of third-placed Benfica. However, with the Portuguese side boasting a better H2H record, only a victory in Munich would guarantee that Barca would make it out from the Champions League group stages. Yet, Xavi’s side suffered a 1-0 home loss to Betis in the build-up to this trip, seeing their six-match unbeaten streak in all competitions come to a halt (W3, D3). It goes from bad to worse for Barcelona, as they’ve scored just four times across their last eight Champions League fixtures.