Barcelona vs Bayern Munich Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

We are expecting a ridiculously tough game between two European giants who have begun their respective seasons in terrific fashion.

The hosts are top of La Liga after nine games, with eight wins and a single loss to Osasuna. Barcelona have won all of their respective home games this season on the domestic and European front. Bayern Munich on the other hand, are top of the Bundesliga after six games, having won four and drawn twice this season.

Expect goals between these two free-scoring sides. Over 2.5 goals have been scored in eight of the last nine involving Barcelona and six of the previous seven meetings between both sides. Despite Barcelona’s impressive home record this season, Bayern Munich will almost certainly provide the hosts with a difficult encounter. Bayern Munich have been impressive away from home this season, having won four of their six away games this season.

With this game being tough to call, we are leaning towards a draw here. Both sides will provide attacking intent, which could lead to a 2-2 draw between the two sides.

Barcelona 2-2 Bayern Munich

A clash of the European heavyweights is on offer as Barcelona host Bayern Munich in the standout fixture for matchday three of the UEFA Champions League. Hansi Flick takes on his former employers.

Date: 23/10/2024
Location: Spotify Camp Nou
Kick-Off: 8 pm

These two sides have an established European pedigree, with 11 European Cups between the two teams. Barcelona last lifted this famous trophy in 2015, whereas Bayern Munich last lifted this famous trophy in 2020. Both sides have shared managers and players alike in recent years, and this latest chapter highlights Robert Lewandowski and Hansi Flick in particular.

Hansi Flick guided the visitors to an unprecedented treble in 2020, spearheaded by the mercurial talents of the Polish talisman Robert Lewandowski. The last time the pair was involved in this fixture, it provided one of the biggest shocks in European football as Bayern Munich scored eight past a hapless Barcelona side. Two of the goals that day were scored by Phillippe Coutinho, who was on loan from Barcelona to Bayern Munich at the time.

Barcelona and Bayern Munich are level on points after the first two games played in this new format. Barcelona began their campaign with a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Ligue 1 leaders AS Monaco. Hansi Flick’s side recovered with an impressive 5-0 win over BSC Young Boys. Bayern Munich opened their campaign with an unbelievable 9-2 win over Dinamo Zagreb, however, they were then foiled by Unai Emery’s Aston Villa side in matchday two.

The game will be shown live on the extra option of TNT Sports 5, available on the Discovery Plus App.

Predicted Barcelona Eleven: Pena; Kounde, Cubarsi, I Martinez, Balde; Casado, E Garcia, Pedri; Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha.

Predicted Bayern Eleven: Neuer, Guerreiro, Upamecano, Min-Jae Kim, Davies, Kimmich, Pavlovic, Olise, Muller, Gnabry, Kane.

The recent history between the two teams favours the Bavarian side, as Bayern Munich have won their previous six meetings against Barcelona and have kept four consecutive clean sheets against the hosts. Barcelona have been on the end of six games without a clean sheet against Bayern Munich and have conceded an average of 4.9 per game in their last five meetings with the visitors. Admittedly, a huge factor in this was the 8-2 defeat Barcelona suffered at the hands of Bayern Munich.

As of writing, Barcelona will be playing Sevilla beforehand; the home side are unbeaten at home in the league after three games. Barcelona have scored ten goals and have only conceded once in the process. Hansi Flick’s side have averaged 3.33 goals per game and most recently won their UEFA Champions League fixture at the Camp Nou, with a 5-0 win over BSC Young Boys - with goals from Raphinha, Inigo Martinez, Robert Lewandowski (x2) and a Mohamed Camara own goal.

Bayern Munich recently ended their three-game winless run in all competitions with an emphatic victory over VFB Stuttgart at the weekend. Bayern Munich failed to score in the first half, and in the 57th minute, talisman Harry Kane opened the scoring for Vincent Kompany’s side. The England captain added two further goals to his tally later on in the second half, in which a goal from Kingsley Coman capped off the game. Bayern Munich have been impressive away from home this season, having won four of their six away games this season.

The visitors have been mightly impressive on their travels this season, averaging 2.5 points per game this season. Bayern’s only away fixture in the Champions League this season was the 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa in the last round of fixtures. Bayern were held to a 3-3 draw against Frankfurt in the previous league game away from home.

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