Champions League: Can Slumping Bayern Spoil Lewandowski’s Munich Return?

Bayern Munich vs Barcelona

In one of the most-awaited matches of the Champions League group stage, Robert Lewandowski will be making his return to Munich with FC Barcelona as the Catalans visit his former club FC Bayern at the Allianz Arena.

Lewandowski has looked every bit the superstar striker Barca had hoped they were getting after they lured him away from Bayern in the summer, and their Champions League 2022 odds of winning the title are looking good as a result.

Lewy will now be out to haunt his old club, who have suddenly lost the winning touch after they were looking so good without him to start the season.

Talking Points

Bayern suddenly missing Lewy

After looking like absolute world-beaters in their first few games of the season sans Robert Lewandowski, Bayern Munich suddenly seem to be missing Lewy and his goals as they’ve been held to three straight draws in the Bundesliga.

After draws against Borussia Monchengladbach and high-flying Union Berlin, the German champions were again held to a 2-2 stalemate by Stuttgart at home over the weekend as they conceded a stoppage-time penalty.

Coach Julian Nagelsmann shook up his starting lineup as he gave starts to Noussair Mazraoui, Leon Goretzka and teenager Mathys Tel, while giving Sadio Mane a rest.

Mazraoui and Tel did well as the former got an assist and the latter scored to become the club’s youngest ever goalscorer in the Bundesliga at 17 years and 136 days. Meanwhile, fellow teenager Jamal Musiala continued his terrific start with his fourth goal of the season.

But the Bayern defence remains surprisingly shaky as the new centre-back partnership of Mathijs de Ligt and Dayot Upamecano has been unable to shore up the backline.

Lucas Hernandez got the start in Bayern’s dominant 2-0 victory over Inter Milan in Matchday 1 of the Champions League, and he could be reinserted into the first XI against Barcelona.

Barcelona banging in the goals

Robert Lewandowski will head into his much-anticipated reunion with old club Bayern Munich in fabulous form. The Polish superstar continued his sizzling start at Barcelona as he scored a goal and had two assists after coming on as a substitute in their 4-0 win over Cadiz.

Lewy has now scored an incredible nine goals in his last five appearances and made a host of Champions League 2022 highlights with his hat-trick against Viktoria Plzen.

But Lewy is far from the only player in fine form for Barca, who have now won five in a row while scoring 20 goals. Ousmane Dembele has been equally excellent, with two goals and four assists in his last five appearances.

Barca manager Xavi made a host of changes to his size against Cadiz in order to rest some of his stars for the Champions League. Memphis Depay, Gerard Pique and Hector Bellerin were all handed their first La Liga starts of the season, while Marcos Alonso also made his debut off the bench.

Meanwhile, there is stilff competition for places with Raphinha, Frenkie de Jong, Ferran Torres and Ansu Fati also vying for playing time.

But the likes of Lewandowski, Dembele, Pedri, and Jules Kounde are all expected to return to the starting lineup against Bayern.

History

Bayern Munich have been Barcelona’s bogey team in the Champions League. The German giants have a significant 8-2 advantage in terms of head-to-head wins in their 11 Champions League meetings, including the last four in a row.

Those eight defeats are the most Barca have suffered against any club in the Champions League by a wide margin.

Moreover, Bayern have been absolutely dominant at home in this Champions League. They have won 35 of their last 37 group stage home games, with just one draw and one defeat.

Betting Tip 

SBOTOP odds have Bayern Munich installed as significant 1.79 favourites over Barcelona, who are priced at 3.60 to pull off a rare win over the Germans. A draw is 4.30.

Despite Bayern’s recent slump in form, they are still not to be underestimated even against a Barca side that has been looking unstoppable of late.

Nevertheless, Barca are decent value on the Asian Handicap market. With Lewandowski in sizzling form and extra motivated to play well against his old club, the Catalans are more than capable of coming away from Munich with at least a point, if not all three.

 

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