Bayern Munich vs Barcelona: Predictions, betting tips, odds & match preview
Bayern Munich play Barcelona in Lisbon for this week’s Champions League quarter-final clash, their 18th qualification for this particular stage of the competition.
Bayern are operating as betting favourites in our predictions below. So, scroll on down and take a read of how and where it’ll go wrong for Lionel Messi and co…
Bayern Munich vs Barcelona Preview
The Die Roten have been in scintillating form in this season’s Champions League campaign, armed with a potent strike-force led by captain Robert Lewandowski and boasting one of the best defences in the competition.
Unfortunately for Frank Lampard‘s Chelsea, the Blues felt both sides of the sword without much reprieve in their two RO16 legs, and it showed in the final standings.
A commanding 3-0 lead obtained by the German side in the first leg at Stamford Bridge back in February did the South Londoners no favours. Yet with months to prepare and domestic form slowly improving, there was no excuse for the manner of the defeat they faced at the Allianz last week.
Indeed, a quick-fire penalty and a sumptuous Ivan Perisic goal took the aggregate scoreline up to 5-0, all within 25 minutes of the second leg being played.
And though Chelsea did pull one back courtesy of Tammy Abraham’s efforts, the euphoria was short-lived, with the hosts racking up two more goals via substitute Corentin Tolisso and Lewandowski to seal the Blues‘ fate.
The victory for Hans-Dieter Flick’s men is their eighth consecutive win in the Champions League this season, making them only the second side to do so since 2002, with the first being (guess who?) Barcelona.
Quite fitting, given that it’s this week’s quarter-final opponents, who already have that particular accolade under their belt. Though not altogether surprising, given the kind of performances we’ve seen Barca input this season, epitomised by the attacking display they showcased against Napoli in their own RO16 clash.
It was an attacking display for the ages, featuring another Messi masterclass; the Argentine followed Clement Lenglet’s efforts, which opened the scoring, with a trademark mazy run and sublime finish to match. There was a second goal to that feat that was chalked off via VAR.
Yet despite having another point on the score board, Messi was in the mix again, brought down by Kalidou Koulibaly in the box and awarded a penalty, which Luis Suarez netted with ease.
The first-half drama wasn’t over there. In textbook Barca fashion, Ivan Rakitic conceded a penalty for a foul on Dries Mertens which Lorenzo Insigne happily converted. Could it be that those nightmarish matches against Liverpool and Roma would repeat themselves on the greatest of stages?
Though the chances were there for it to unfold, a significantly quieter second half meant Quique Setien‘s men were able to stave off Arkadiusz Milik and Co. to secure safe passage into the Champions League quarter-finals.
Messi and his team will, however, have very little time to rest and recuperate, as next up on this hectic fixture list from hell are a team raring to try their hand at the Spanish giants: Bayern Munich.
Bayern Munich vs Barcelona Betting Tips
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Bayern Munich vs Barcelona Predictions
Though Barca‘s attack once again was the decisive factor in Setien securing a potential career-saving victory, there were plenty of moments of fortune, provided by Napoli in the second leg, that ensured they’d be the ones playing against Bayern this Thursday.
From Koulibaly’s unconvincing defending at the back allowing Messi to weave his magic through the back four, all the way through to the pinball possession in amongst the Napoli defensive third, the moments where Gennaro Gattuso’s men faltered made all the difference for the hosts.
Unfortunately for Barca, they won’t certainly be as lucky this time around in Lisbon, facing a team far more compact and menacing as a collective.
Indeed, the Die Roten have impressed across their Bundesliga campaign, conceding a meagre 32 goals and racking up 100 through a blistering attack. When you compare that to the disappointing season Barca served up in La liga, featuring plenty of unconvincing displays, let alone against Napoli, where they needed a Lenglet opener to settle the tension, there’s really not much more to say.
The only thing that could work in their favour and frustrate Bayern is Messi turning up, doing his thing, scoring a few goals, and that being the end of that, no matter how good Flick’s men are.
Yet, Bayern possess the means to not only suppress the Argentine, but to leave him in the dust and orchestrate powerful counterattacking moves on their way to goal, with the likes of Alphonso Davies, Serge Gnabry, and Thomas Muller leading the charge.
And that’s without mentioning the man of the moment, Lewandowski, with his epic goalscoring skills (see below for further mind-boggling analysis on this specimen of a striker).
All in all, it looks as if Barcelona will be facing another Champions League quarter-final exit at the hands of worthy opponents, one that could cost Setien his job, bar a Messi miracle or VAR controversy.
Squawka Bet Tip: Robert Lewandowski to score anytime @ 4/5 with Paddy Power – odds correct at the time of writing
Squawka Stat: Lewandowski has also scored in all seven of his Champions League appearances this season (13 goals).
Lewandowski won’t be getting his hands on a Ballon d’Or this season, but if the ceremony was still going ahead, there would be very few to refute him from getting his hands on the prestigious trophy.
His goalscoring records this season make him a worthy contender, with 34 goals in 31 appearances, four assists, another seven goals in the DFB-Pokal, and then all the way back around to the Champions League considerations, where the striker scored almost two goals per game. The final count? 54 goals in this season alone. Yes, we know.
If that wasn’t enough to convince you why he’ll be the pick of the first-goalscorer betting markets, then you only have to take a look at his performances against Chelsea over the two RO16 legs. Such was Lewandowski’s potency in the final third, he was directly involved in all seven of Bayern’s goals.
Facing a Barca central midfield that, without Sergio Busquets, proved to be easily penetrable at the hands of Mertens and Co., you can expect Bayern’s midfield maestro’s – Thiago, Leon Goretzka, Muller, the works – to be just as resourceful in finding the perfect channel straight to the Polish international’s feet.
You almost expect him to score. Not adding to his tally would be far more confusing given how his season’s been going.
The real question is whether Messi can match his feats in front of goal and secure semi-final territory for his own team. Considering that the Argentine has scored nine goals and racked up three assists in his last six Champions League knockout stage games, the odds about either team’s talismans are worth betting on.
The final prognosis, however, certainly wagers in Lewandowski’s favour, and Bayern’s, in terms of who will emerge victorious.
Bayern Munich Form
Bayern Munich 4-1 Chelsea (08/08/20 – Champions League second-leg RO16)
Bayern Munich 1-0 Marseille (31/07/20 – Club Friendlies)
Leverkusen 2-4 Bayern Munich (04/07/20 – DFB-Pokal Final)
Wolfsburg 0-4 Bayern Munich (27/06/20 – Bundesliga)
Bayern Munich 3-1 SC Freiburg (20/06/20 – Bundesliga)
Barcelona Form
Barcelona 3-1 Napoli (08/08/20 – Champions League second-leg RO16)
Alaves 0-5 Barcelona (19/07/20 – La Liga)
Barcelona 1-2 Osasuna (16/07/20 – La Liga)
Valladolid 0-1 Barcelona (11/07/20 – La Liga)
Barcelona 1-0 Espanyol (08/07/20 – La Liga)
READ MORE ON THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE:
Champions League 2019/20 top scorers list
Champions League 2019/20 assist leaders
Champions League 2019/20 Golden Glove standings
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