The standout fixture of Matchday 3 in the 2024/25 Champions League league phase arrives in Catalonia on Wednesday night as Barcelona host Bayern Munich.
There’s plenty of good feeling surrounding this Barca team heading into Wednesday’s bout, but duels with Bayern have brought out the very worst of the modern-day Blaugrana. The Bavarian behemoths have won the last six head-to-head meetings, a run which includes the notorious 8-2 rout at Camp Nou in 2020.
Bayern have won the last four fixtures by an aggregate score of 11-0.
However, former Bayern head coach Hansi Flick has got Barca firing on all cylinders. The German has shrugged off the dysfunction of Xavi’s final year and turned the Catalonian giants into genuine contenders once more with La Masia at the core of their early success this season.
Barca thumped Young Boys on Matchday 2 after losing at Monaco to begin the league phase, while Bayern are aiming to recover from their defeat at Aston Villa last time out. The two teams each scored impressive domestic victories at the weekend by four-goal margins and lead their respective leagues.
Barcelona lineup vs Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1): Pena; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Balde; Casado, Pedri; Yamal, Fermin, Raphinha; Lewandowski.
Bayern Munich lineup vs Barcelona (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Guerreiro, Upamecano, Kim, Davies; Kimmich, Palhinha; Olise, Muller, Gnabry; Kane.
