Just days on from domestic disappointments, both Bayern Munich and Arsenal must quickly refocus as they battle it out for a place in the semi-finals of this season’s UEFA Champions League.
Bayern’s 11-year grip on the Bundesliga title was officially ended by Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday, but their season can still be salvaged by European glory and they should feel confident having earned a draw in the first leg in London last week (2-2), though manager Thomas Tuchel was left fuming that his side weren’t awarded a penalty in the second half.
Regardless, a dominant record when drawing the first leg away from home in UEFA two-legged ties (W22, L3) should set them up nicely, as should a fearsome H2H record on their own turf against English opposition (W17, D7, L4).
That said, the quarter-finals haven’t treated them well down the years overall, being eliminated a competition-record 13 times at this stage, including in each of the last three campaigns.
Arsenal may not be primed to take advantage of that return after conceding control of the Premier League thanks to a 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa. Mikel Arteta’s side will be desperate to avoid a hangover of that result as they travel east looking to banish demons after losing their last four two-legged ties against German opposition – all of which came at the hands of Bayern!
The Gunners are competing in the last-eight of the Champions League for the first time in 14 years, but their record in the quarterfinals historically leaves a lot to be desired (W2, L5).
Arsenal have at least been solid travellers in Europe of late, losing just four of their last 21 such away matches (W12, D5) – a record that could spur them onto the semi-finals of this tournament for the first time since 2008/09!
Players to watch: Free-scoring Bayern striker Harry Kane needs just one more goal against Arsenal to move clear as the all-time top scorer against the Gunners – he’s currently tied on 15 with Wayne Rooney. England teammate Bukayo Saka broke the deadlock in the first leg, whilst three of his four Champions League goals this season have arrived inside the first 25 minutes.
Hot stat: Bayern Munich have won five of six UEFA penalty shootouts – with the only exception coming on this ground against Chelsea in the 2011/12 Champions League final.
Bayern Munich vs Arsenal: Team News
After receiving a quintuple injury boost before heading to the Emirates, another absentee crisis could now befall Bayern boss Tuchel, who is definitely without first-choice left-back Alphonso Davies due to suspension; the Canadian was booked for the third time in the tournament in the first leg.
Fellow wideman Gnabry, Kingsley Coman and Leroy Sane have also been confirmed injured with varying severities; the former’s hamstring problem and Coman’s groin issue will render them unavailable, but Tuchel has issued a rallying cry to Sane to grin and bear it on Wednesday.
Tuchel and Arteta can share each other’s pain over fresh attacking concerns, as captain Martin Odegaard could not complete the full 90 minutes in the loss to Villa due to an unspecified issue, but he trained on Tuesday and is expected to reprise his regular role here.
Arteta has said that Odegaard will be assessed ahead of kickoff, and the same goes for Saka who has been managing minor injuries throughout the season and was seen gingerly walking off in added time last weekend.
Jurrien Timber is a guaranteed absentee as he continues his recuperation from his devastating ACL injury.
Predicted XIs
Bayern Munich’s possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Kimmich, Dier, De Ligt, Guerreiro; Laimer, Goretzka; Muller, Musiala, Sane; Kane
Arsenal’s possible starting lineup:
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
